Bangkok--18 Dec--Standard & Poor's Higher energy prices and the housing market downturn has not seemed to dampen consumer sentiments for the holiday shopping season, according to an article published today by Standard & Poor's. The report, titled "U.S. Credit Comment: November Sales Brings Holiday Cheer To Retailers (Premium)," says that retail sales shot up by 1.2% in November, twice as much as the market forecast, picking up the pace from the 0.2% recorded in October and lifting year-over-year growth to 6.3%. "Robust retail sales figures should give some much awaited relief to retailers facing tapering cash flows, squeezing profit margins, and increasing financing costs," said Diane Vazza, head of Standard & Poor's Global Fixed Income Research Group. "However, early December sales figures are not yet looking very encouraging, possibly indicating that the current good news will not stay for long. On the other hand, heavy shopping during the weekend before Christmas could change the picture significantly." The report is available to RatingsDirect subscribers who have upgraded their package to include the Global Fixed Income Research add-on. RatingsDirect is the real-time Web-based source for Standard & Poor's credit ratings, research, and risk analysis, at www.ratingsdirect.com. If you are not a RatingsDirect subscriber with the Global Fixed Income Research add-on, please contact your local Standard & Poor's representative or [email protected] for further information. Ratings information can also be found on Standard & Poor's public Web site at www.standardandpoors.com; under Credit Ratings in the left navigation bar, select Find a Rating, then Credit Ratings Search. Members of the media may request a copy of this report by contacting the media representative provided. Media Contact: Mimi Barker, New York (1) 212-438-5054, [email protected] Analyst Contact: Diane Vazza, New York (1) 212-438-2760 Standard & Poor's, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE:MHP), is the world's foremost provider of financial market intelligence, including independent credit ratings, indices, risk evaluation, investment research and data. With approximately 8,500 employees, including wholly owned affiliates, located in 21 countries, Standard & Poor's is an essential part of the world's financial infrastructure and has played a leading role for more than 140 years in providing investors with the independent benchmarks they need to feel more confident about their investment and financial decisions. For more information, visit http://www.standardandpoors.com. Key Contacts: Americas Media Relations: (1) 212-438-6667 media_ [email protected] Americas Customer Service: (1) 212-438-7280 [email protected]