...as measured by the Conference Board, rebounded strongly in December after three months of steep declines. Retail sales last month were pulled down by a 4.2 percent drop in sales at gasoline stations, reflecting lower prices at the pump...

...sales rose 0.3 percent in April. The stockpile gain was the fifth straight and analysts said the decline in retail sales last month suggested inventories moved higher in May as well. The decline in producer prices meant costs at the wholesale...

...remained at levels indicating the labor market was continuing to improve, analysts said. The 1.4 percent rise in retail sales last month was the biggest gain since a 1.8 percent sales jump last September. The strength was led by a 2.5 percent...

...from a worrisome pause in activity in the early summer. The Commerce Department said the 0.7 percent gain in retail sales last month followed a revised 0.5 percent decline in June. While the July rebound was smaller than the 1 percent advance...

...their spending on cars and furniture but shelled out more for hardware, building supplies and clothing. Total retail sales last month were unchanged at a seasonally adjusted $252.5 billion, the Commerce Department said today. That was in line...

...ministry said industrial output fell 2.0 percent in November compared to the previous month, while large store retail sales last month fell 1.5 percent on the year. "We all know very well that the Japanese economy is still in a severe slump...