Retail sales rose 0.3% in November vs. expectations for a decline

Consumers showed unexpected strength in November, giving a solid start to the holiday season as inflation showed signs of continued easing.

Retail sales rose 0.3% in November, stronger than the 0.2% decline in October and better than the Dow Jones estimate for a decrease of 0.1%, the

Thursday. The total is adjusted for seasonal factors but not inflation.

Excluding autos, sales rose 0.2%, also better than the…