By Tuba Ongun
US retail sales rose 0.4% to reach $718.9 billion October, beating market estimates, according to advance figures released on Friday by the US Commerce Department.
The figure was above market forecast of a 0.3% gain and accelerated from September's upwardly revised 0.8%.
Sales of electronics and appliance stores (2.3%), auto dealers (1.9%), and food services and drinking places (0.7%) enjoyed the largest monthly hike in October.
On the other hand, sales dropped at miscellaneous store retailers by 1.6%, furniture stores by 1.3% and sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, and book stores by 1.1%.
On an annual basis, retail sales grew 2.8% in October following 2% in the prior month.
"Total sales for the August through October period were up 2.3% from the same period a year ago," the agency said in a statement.
The gains indicate that consumer demand remains high in the world's largest economy.