Retail sales see slight gain in November

WASHINGTON — U.S. retail sales slightly edged up in November, according to U.S. Census Bureau.

U.S. retail and food services sales for November, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $399.3 billion, an increase of 0.2% from the previous month and 6.7% above November 2010. Adjusted retail sales totaled $357.5 billion, a 0.3% increase over October retail sales.

Look across retail categories, the Census Bureau reported that grocery store sales saw a decline in November, decreasing from $46.6 billion to $46.4 billion. Health and personal care stores also experienced a slight drop in November, dropped from $23.16 billion to $23.14 billion. Retail sales for drug stores and pharmacies were not recorded; however, sales did increase from September to October ($19.2 billion to $19.3 billion).