American consumers are expected to add a second month in November to the start of the best holiday shopping season in two decades. Retail Sales are forecast to rise 0.8% after climbing 1.7% in October, the strongest monthly gain since the pandemic stipend fueled 7.6% jump in March. Sales ex-autos are predicted to add 1% in November following the 1.7% gain in October. The Retail Sales Control Group, which mimics the consumption portion of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), is projected to increase 0.8%, half of its September result. {table} Holiday sales, October, November and December are the financial backbone of many ... (full story)