RENEE MONTAGNE, host: NPR's Business News starts with shopping and then more shopping.</s>RENEE MONTAGNE, host: Americans are still shopping, but not enough to make retailers happy. Sales at big chain stores like Wal-Mart and Macy's rose an average of three to four percent last month, but there are signs that consumers are becoming more careful about their spending. The National Retail Federation does expect an increase in holiday sales this year, though it said that it will be the smallest in five years.
Sales at big chain stores — such as Wal-Mart and Macy's — rose an average of 3 to 4 percent in November. But there are signs that consumers are becoming more careful about spending. The National Retail Federation expects an increase in holiday sales this year, but predicts that increase will be the smallest in five years.