Article: October sales offer relief to merchants

Consumers, enticed by cooler weather and an improving economy, spent a little more in October, handing the retail industry its second consecutive monthly sales gain after more than a year of declines.

Even affluent shoppers, who had been tight with their purse strings since the financial meltdown ballooned last year, spent more for designer duds.

As merchants announced their figures Thursday, the results showed that shoppers still were not splurging, restrained by tight credit and a weak job market. But the improving figures and tone of the reports all pointed to sales momentum, encouraging as the industry heads into the holiday shopping season.

Among the bright spots were ...

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