U.S. retail sales experienced a significant expansion of 0.6% month-over-month in November 2025, according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau on January 14, 2026. This performance comfortably exceeded market expectations, which had predicted a more modest increase of 0.4%. The positive movement marks a substantial rebound from a revised 0.1% contraction recorded in October, suggesting a resilient consumer heading into the final month of the year. The surge in November's retail activity was notably driven by a rebound in auto sales, which jumped by 1.0% after a previous dip. Additionally, strong pre-holiday shopping contributed significantly to the overall growth, aligning with earlier projections for a solid holiday season. Categories such as sporting goods, musical instruments, and book stores saw notable increases (1.9%), alongside gasoline stations (1.4%) and building and garden suppliers (1.3%). Sales excluding volatile components like automobiles, gasoline, building materials, and food services—often referred to as the 'core' retail sales or control group, which directly feeds into GDP calculations—also climbed by 0.4%. Overall, total sales for the September through November 2025 period were up 3.6% compared to the same period a year ago. This robust retail performance underscores sustained consumer demand, a crucial driver of the U.S. economy. The news, originating from the U.S. Census Bureau, has been widely corroborated by reputable financial news outlets globally. For an audience in India, this data provides key insights into the health of the world's largest economy, which can influence global trade dynamics, investment sentiment, and currency markets, including the US Dollar's performance against the Indian Rupee.