Retail Sales Up, Jobless Claims Rise

U.S. retail sales jumped a more-than-expected 1.2 percent in December, but first-time jobless claims posted a surprise climb and import prices dipped more than anticipated, government reports showed on Thursday.

The rise in retail sales in December was fueled by strong sales at auto dealers, furniture stores and on-line retailers, a Commerce Department report said. Retail sales in all of 2004 jumped 8.0 percent, the biggest gain since 1999