U.S. retail sales rose 0.1% in November the U.S. Commerce Department said today, beating analyst expectations for a flat reading.

As well, October retail sales were revised higher by 0.2% to 0.8%.

Shoppers spent on electronics and appliances, building materials and garden supplies, groceries and other items. They boosted sales at bars and restaurants. But they cut back on purchases of cars, clothes and sporting goods, books and music.

Excluding sales of automobiles, which can swing widely from month to month, sales at all other merchants in November rose by a solid 0.5%, exceeding some analysts’ forecasts for a more moderate 0.3% gain. In October, sales for this category excluding automobiles, went up by a brisk 1.1%.

Sales of automobile dealerships dropped by 1.3% in November, following a 0.5% decline in October.

Sales at clothing stores dipped 0.1% last month, compared with a 2.4% rise in October. Sales at sporting goods, books and music stores dropped by 1.2%, after a 0.3% gain.

Department store sales in November slipped 0.1%, following a 0.6% rise. Major U.S. retailers, earlier this month, had reported a lacklustre start to the holiday shopping season with disappointing sales during the Thanksgiving weekend.

The rise overall November sales likely won’t change the widely held view that the Federal Reserve will raise short-term interest rates when it meets Tuesday.. Analysts are predicting a 25 basis point boost.