#shoppers continue

NEW YORK | Holiday sales expected to grow in a strong economy

NEW YORK  — The National Retail Federation, the nation’s largest retail trade group, says it expects sales in November and December to rise between 4.3 percent and 4.8 percent to $717.45 billion to $720.89 billion as shoppers continue to be in a spending mood in a stronger economy.

The sales growth marks a drop from last year’s 5.3 percent, which was the largest gain since 2010 when it was 5.2…