Retail Sales Make a Baby Jump

Retail sales hopped up 0.6 percent in December, making the increase a total of 6.6 percent in 2010, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. Still, the uptick is just below private-sector expectations. Additionally, retail trade sales stood 8.2 percent above 2009.

"As we reflect on the past year, today’s data underscores that retail sales—a fundamental indicator of economic health—grew at a strong pace throughout the second half of 2010, signaling momentum in consumer spending and the overall economy," stated Gary Locke, U.S. secretary of commerce.