Analysts had expected an increase of 0.6 percent, according to Bloomberg's compilation of forecasts. In November, retail trade increased by 0.8 percent, according to a revised figure. The previous calculation was 0.7 percent.
Excluding vehicles and fuel, retail trade in the USA increased by 0.3 percent in December. Expectations were for an increase of 0.4 percent, up from 0.2 percent in November.
Neither stock exchanges, interest rates, nor the dollar moved significantly after the figures.
