NEW YORK—Americans stepped up their spending at retailers in December, closing out the holiday shopping season and the year on an upbeat tone and signaling that people remain confident enough to keep spending freely.
Retail sales accelerated 0.6 percent in December from November’s 0.3 percent increase, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday. Because spending by consumers accounts for nearly 70 percent of the U.S. economy, the report suggested that shoppers will be able to keep fueling economic growth this year.
