Retail sales rise points to pickup in spending

... pite headwinds from tax increases and the sequester," said Omair Sharif, a U.S. economist at RBS Securities Inc. in Stamford, Conn. "Job growth is continuing at a moderate clip and we're making gradual headway."

http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/08/13/3105439/retail-sales-rise-points-to-pickup.html#storylink=rss