ECONOMY

Retailers See Strong Finish in November: Last weekend’s promising start to the holiday shopping season rescued the nation’s retailers from an otherwise dismal November, the big store owners said in announcing sales figures that, while mixed, forecast a generally strong holiday season. Analysts said November’s results bode well for the holidays because consumers showed a strong appetite over the Thanksgiving weekend for gifts such as electronics and jewelry. Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the nation’s largest retailer, said sales from stores open at least a year rose 5.4% from last November. Kmart Corp. said such sales rose 4.2%, and Dayton Hudson’s rose 8.7%. The company owns department stores, the Target discount chain and the Mervyn’s clothing chain. Los Angeles-based Broadway Stores Inc. said sales increased 0.2% in November.