2011 retail sales up 7.7 percent over 2010

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- Retail sales jumped 7.7 percent in 2011 over 2010, with auto sales up 9.9 percent and gasoline sales up 17.7 percent, the U.S. Census Bureau said Thursday.

Retail sales, including food service sales, adjusted for seasonal variations but not for prices rose to $400.6 billion on December sales that were 6.5 percent higher than in December 2010, but only 0.1 percent above November 2011, the bureau said in a release.

Non-store sales, which includes Internet and catalog sales, had another big year, rising 12.5 percent in 2011 over 2010. That compares to general merchandise stores, where sales were up 3.5 percent, although department store sales fell 1.1 percent.