US retail sales rose for the fourth straight month, climbing 1.2 percent in October, as consumers flocked to auto showrooms and made more purchases online, the Commerce Department reported Monday.

Sales for September and August were also revised higher.

Excluding motor vehicles, retail sales rose 0.4 percent in October.

Economists surveyed by MarketWatch forecast total sales to rise by 0.7 percent, or 0.4 percent excluding the volatile automotive segment.

Retail sales rose at an annual rate of 6.3 percent over the past three months.

Sales were revised to a 0.7 percent increase in September, compared to an original reading of 0.6 percent. August sales were revised up to 0.9 percent from 0.7 percent.

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