Retail Sales Probably Rose as U.S. Consumers Overcame Tax Rise

Sales at U.S. retailers probably grew in January as an improving job market helped consumers overcome higher payroll taxes, economists said before a report this morning.

The projected 0.1 percent rise would follow a 0.5 percent December increase, according to the median forecast in a Bloomberg survey of 80 economists. Other reports may show import prices and business inventories climbed.