Consumers pulled back on spending in November, the Commerce Department reported Thursday. Retail sales for the month declined 0.6%.
The pullback was widespread across categories. Furniture and home furnishings stores reported a decrease of 2.6%, building materials and garden centers were off 2.5%, and motor vehicle and parts dealers dropped 2.3%.
Even with declining gas prices, service stations sales were down just 0.1%.
Online sales also decreased, falling 0.9%, while bars and restaurants increased 0.9%, and food and beverage stores rose 0.8%.