Retail sales were flat on the month following a 0.6% increase in November, according to numbers adjusted for seasonality but not inflation. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had expected an increase of 0.4%. Excluding autos, sales also were unchanged, against the estimate for a 0.3% increase.

Sales at McDonald’s restaurants that have been open at least a year rose 5.7 per cent between October and December compared with a year before, the hamburger chain reported on Wednesday. That is more than the 5.