Retail sales soar in December:
Retail sales soared in December and posted the biggest monthly jump in eight years, after the federal government gave generous handouts to parents and pensioners.
In this photo made Monday, Aug. 11, 2009, a shopper moves through the aisles at Kohl's department store in Springfield, Ill. The Commerce Department said Tuesday, Sept. 15, retail sales rise more than expected in August; sales excluding autos up 1.1 percent.