Retail industry sales climbed 6.4 percent this past holiday season, as a late-December shopping spree helped push past the 6 percent growth expected by the industry, the National Retail Federation reported Friday.

The federation said such retail sales – which exclude auto sales and sales at gasoline stations and restaurants – for December increased by 5.7 percent from a year earlier.

The totals for November and December added up to a 6.4 percent increase. After all receipts were tallied, consumers spent a total of $438.6 billon this holiday season, the federation said.

Retail industry sales climbed 6.4 percent this past holiday season, as a late-December shopping spree helped push past the 6 percent growth expected by the industry, the National Retail Federation reported Friday.

The federation said such retail sales – which exclude auto sales and sales at gasoline stations and restaurants – for December increased by 5.7 percent from a year earlier.

The totals for November and December added up to a 6.4 percent increase. After all receipts were tallied, consumers spent a total of $438.6 billon this holiday season, the federation said.