US retail sales rise 0.7 per cent US consumers ramped up spending in November on cars, appliances and furniture and made more purchases online, signalling growing confidence in the economy during the holiday shopping season. The Commerce Department says retail sales rose 0.7 per cent, the biggest gain in five months. October's figure was also revised higher to 0.6 per cent. Two straight months of healthy sales suggests steady hiring is encouraging Americans to spend more this holiday season, particularly on big-ticket items. Car sales jumped 1.8 per cent and furniture purchases rose 1.2 per cent. Excluding the volatile categories of cars, petrol and building materials, sales rose a solid 0.5 per cent in November. Americans also are shifting more spending to online and catalog retailers. Online and catalog sales rose 2.2 per cent last month, the most in nearly 18 months.