Sales increased 0.7% for the month compared with estimates of a 0.8% decline.
Investors are looking at Thursday's data for signals on how the economy is weathering Covid and how that might figure into the Federal Reserve's thoughts on when to start tapering bond purchases.
In fact, it appears the S&P 500 usually peaks around the 17th day of the month, which is this Friday.
The FDA's staff has declined to take a stance on whether to back Covid booster shots of Pfizer's vaccine, saying U.S.Moderna, which also supports boosters, has released data showing breakthrough cases were less frequent in people who were more recently vaccinated with its two-shot vaccine.
Southwest Airlines has introduced new incentives to get staff vaccinated against Covid.workforce to be vaccinated, saying it will put staff who receive religious exemptions on temporary unpaid leave.