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

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.

American shoppers have spent more than expected so far this fall at retail establishments and restaurants. U.S. retail and food-service sales rose 0.4% in October from September in seasonally adjusted terms to $718.