US: Retail sales increased 0.8% in October vs 0.5% expected

"Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for October 2018 were $511.5 billion, an increase of 0.8 percent from the previous month, and 4.6 percent above October 2017," the U.S. Census Bureau announced on Thursday.

Key takeaways from the press release

• Total sales for the August 2018 through October 2018 period were up 5.0 percent from the same period a year ago. 
• Gasoline Stations were up 16.2 percent from October 2017, while Nonstore Retailers were also up 12.1 percent from last year.