U.S. retail sales weak; jobless claims jump

By Lucia Mutikani WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. consumer spending barely rose in January as households cut back on purchases of a range of goods, suggesting the economy started the first quarter on a softer note. The Commerce Department said on Thursday retail sales excluding automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services edged up 0.1 percent last month after a 0.3 percent drop in December. The so-called core retail sales correspond most closely with the consumer spending component of