The U.S. Census Bureau announced that the combined value of distributive trade sales and manufacturers’ shipments for October, adjusted for seasonal and trading-day differences but not for price changes, was estimated at $1,350.9 billion, down 0.1% from September, but up 3.4% from October 2013.

Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for November, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $449.3 billion, an increase of 0.7% from the previous month, and 5.1% above November 2013. Total sales for the September through November period were up 4.7% from the same period a year ago. Retail trade sales were up 0.7% from October and 4.9% above last year. Auto and other motor vehicle dealers were up 9.5% from November 2013 and nonstore retailers were up 8.7% from last year.

In the week ending December 6, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims for unemployment insurance was 294,000, a decrease of 3,000 from the previous week’s unrevised level of 297,000, the Labor Department reported. The four-week moving average was 299,250, an increase of 250 from the previous week’s unrevised average of 299,000.

The average interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 3.93%, up from 3.89% one week ago, according to Freddie Mac. The average interest rate for a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage is 3.20%, up from 3.10%.

Thursday, the Dow was up 63.19 points (0.36%) at 17,596.34, the NASDAQ closed 24.14 points (0.52%) higher at 4,708.16, and the S&P 500 increased 9.19 points (0.45%) to 2,035.33. The Russell 2000 gained 5.11 points (0.44%) to finish at 1,166.98, and the Wilshire 5000 climbed 94.15 points (0.44%) to 21,338.88.

On the NYSE, 3.2 billion shares changed hands, and on the NASDAQ, 2.8 billion shares traded, with 1.4 advancing issues for every declining issue on both exchanges.

The price of the 10-year Treasury note slipped 3/32, increasing its yield to 2.175%. The price of the 30-year Treasury bond was up 12/32, decreasing its yield to 2.814%.

ON THIS DATE: In 1787, Pennsylvania became the second state to ratify the Constitution, by a vote of 46 to 23. In 1899, George Grant patented the wooden golf tee. In 1900, Charles M. Schwab formed the United States Steel Corporation. In 1901, Italian physicist and radio pioneer Guglielmo Marconi succeeded in sending the first radio transmission across the Atlantic Ocean. In 1917, in Omaha, Nebraska, Father Edward J. Flanagan, a 31-year-old Irish priest, opened the doors to a home for troubled and neglected children—Boys Town. In 1967, “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,” a groundbreaking movie about an interracial romantic relationship starring Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Sidney Poitier and Katharine Houghton, opened in theaters. In 1970, “Tears Of A Clown” became Smokey Robinson & The Miracles’ first No. 1 pop hit. In 2000, General Motors declared it would begin to phase out the 103-year-old Oldsmobile, the oldest automotive brand in the United States.

And now it’s time for FRIDAY FILES!

In Salt Lake City, Utah, a high school senior showed up to volunteer for a service project organized by her school’s National Honor Society and was turned away for wearing pants. The girl said she was dressed professionally in slacks and a jacket, but was told that pants are not allowed for female volunteers.

Somewhere over California, a Southwest airlines flight from San Francisco to Phoenix was diverted to Los Angeles after a woman gave birth to her second child on the plane. A passenger on the flight said most people aboard didn’t realize the woman was in labor until they heard the baby crying and her husband calling a flight attendant for help, according to MSN News. He said the woman told the surprised flight attendant: “I just had a baby.”

In Dell Prairie, Wisconsin, a 75-year-old driver was stopped after a deputy noticed his truck cross the center line on State Highway 13 and that the truck had a broken tail light, according to Channel 3000. The deputy said there was a smell of alc.ohol on the man’s breath and he failed a field sobriety test. A breath alcohol test showed a preliminary result of .062, which is more than the .02 limit the man is subject to because of his previous NINE convictions. However, the man denied he had been drinking alc.ohol, saying he ate be.er battered fish that night.

In Murfreesboro, Tennessee, a woman saw a dog chasing her cat in her backyard. So, she decided to get her 22 cal.iber handg.un and shoot the dog. However, while attempting to shoot it, she shot her own hand. Police met up with her at the hospital, but haven’t filed any charges yet.

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