The U.S. Commerce Department says consumers boosted their spending last month, signaling continued growth in the nation's economy.

Retail sales in the United States slowed in October, according to government data released Friday, with analysts noting that devastating hurricanes in recent months likely disrupted consumption.

A mix of factors contributed to the uptick, as people bought more cars and home store sales went up as storm damage in the Southeast got fixed. It's a good sign for the holiday shopping season.