US government figures show that retail spending jumped 1.3% in November, showing broad gains led by cars and electronics.
The Commerce Department report, seen as a key to renewed economic growth, was much stronger than analysts' expectations for a 0.6% rise.
Some special factors pushed up sales, including a 6% rise in petrol sales, a figure affected by higher prices. But electronics sales rose 2.8% and auto sector sales 1.6%.
Excluding volatile vehicle and petrol sales, core retail spending was up 0.6%, a positive sign for the economy in which two-thirds of activity comes from consumer spending.
The report also revised down October retail sales data, but this still showed a healthy 1.1% rise instead of 1.4%.
