By Ruth Mantell
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Sales at U.S. retailers picked up in November, led by autos, as consumers took advantage of holiday season deals, according to government data released Thursday. Overall retail sales climbed a seasonally adjusted 0.7% last month, the most since June, matching economists' expectations, the U.S. Department of Commerce reported. Excluding the large auto sector, retail sales rose 0.4%, above analysts' forecast of 0.2%. Auto sales jumped 1.8% in November, the most since June. Meanwhile, there were drops in retail sales of 0.2% for clothing and accessories stores, and 1.1% at gasoline stations. Online and other non-store retailers saw sales rise 2.2% in November, the most since July 2012. October's retail sales were revised to a gain of 0.6%, compared with a prior estimate of 0.4%. Over the past year, retail sales have grown 4.7%.
