recession is near an end. Consumer spending, which accounts for about 70 percent of economic activity, is the broad measure of U.S. economic activity. Special Report: Global Financial Crisis ...

ahead of an expected 0.4 percent jump. Excluding autos and gas, sales rose 0.6 percent. The Commerce Department said that retail sales in August was still 5.3 percent below August 2008. The rise in retail sales ...

lifted auto sales. Excluding autos, sales rose 1.1 percent, ahead of an expected 0.4 percent jump. Excluding autos and gas, sales rose 0.6 percent. The Commerce Department said that retail sales in August was still 5.3 ...