Retail sales increased more than predicted in December
Retail sales rose more than forecast in December to end 2012 on a positive note, Bloomberg reported. Purchases climbed 0.5 percent, the biggest gain in three months, after a revised 0.4 percent increase in November that was larger than previously reported, according to U,.S. Commerce Department data issued today. Another report showed wholesale prices retreated more than forecast last month to cap the smallest annual gain in four years. Read more.