Retail sales rose in October but provided little hope for a robust holiday shopping season to invigorate the economic recovery. The figures, driven by a surge in auto sales, exceeded economists’ expectations—sales rose 1.4 percent last month, the Commerce Department said. But excluding the big rebound in auto sales, the gain was 0.2 percent. And the report included a sharp downward revision to sales in September.

Retail sales outside of autos showed surprising strength in September, but economists worry that the rebound in all-important consumer spending will be short-lived as American families contend with rising unemployment and tight credit. Removing autos, sales rose a better-than-expected 0.5 percent, led by gains at furniture stores, general merchandise stores and specialty clothing stores.

Retail sales declined in September by the largest amount this year as car sales plummeted following the end of the government’s popular Cash for Clunkers program. But outside of autos, sales were better than expected.

Americans are finally spending a little more, but they’re playing hard to get. A tally of sales at top nationwide stores managed a gain in September for the first time in more than a year.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the worst recession since the 1930s probably is over, although he cautioned that pain—especially for the nearly 15 million unemployed Americans—will persist. His comments drew support yesterday as retail sales figures for August topped expectations. But weak results from two major stores sent a more sobering message: Americans probably aren’t ready to spend in force again.

Retail sales jumped last month, spurred by widespread gains beyond the increases of auto and gasoline sales that economists expected.

A bleak report on retail sales yesterday reinforced a nagging worry of economists: Shoppers won’t spend enough to help a recovery take hold. The figures served as a reality check for an economy that lately has appeared poised to emerge from recession and grow again. Consumer spending powers about 70 percent of economic activity. The “cash for clunkers” rebate program helped boost auto sales to their biggest jump in six months in July, but sales sank elsewhere. Gas stations, department stores, electronics outlets and furniture stores all suffered.

The latest government reports reinforced concerns about how quickly consumers will be able to contribute to a broad economic recovery.

Retailers are reporting sluggish sales for July as shoppers’ worries about jobs escalate, raising concern about the health of the back-to-school shopping season.

After yet another weak month, retailers are preparing to fight for their share of crucial back-to-school shopping. But they may have to keep discounting to keep consumers coming in, given escalating job uncertainty. Particularly worrisome in yesterday’s same-store sales reports: mall-based teen stalwarts like Abercrombie & Fitch were among those hit hardest as families looked for bargains.

Escalating job worries and rainy weather dampened shoppers’ appetite for buying summer staples like shorts and dresses, resulting in sharper-than-expected sales declines for many merchants in June and increasing concerns about the back-to-school shopping season.

The number of people receiving unemployment benefits has set another record, a development likely to weigh on consumer spending and slow the economy’s recovery. More encouraging was a drop in initial jobless claims to a seasonally adjusted 601,000 last week, which was below analysts’ expectations and the lowest level since January. “It’s indicative of a bottoming-out process, but we don’t have much forward momentum to speak of,“ said Jonathan Basile, an economist at Credit Suisse Holdings Inc. in New York. “The consumer is not ready to spend in earnest yet because of the weak job and income environment.“

Retail sales rose by the largest amount in four months in May, as a rebound in demand at auto dealerships and gas stations helped to offset continued weakness at department stores.

Although consumer confidence may be increasing, it’s not showing up at the cash register yet. Many retailers posted disappointing May sales yesterday, and food and necessities remained high on shoppers’ lists. According a Goldman Sachs/ICSC tally, overall same-store sales fell 4.6 percent, worse than the 3 percent drop predicted.

Many retailers posted disappointing May sales, and food and necessities remained high on shoppers’ lists.