Customers shop at Nordstrom Rack in Schaumburg, Ill. Americans cut ...

AP FILE PHOTO, DEC. 26, 2014 | published: January 15, 2015

Customers shop at Nordstrom Rack in Schaumburg, Ill. Americans cut back last month after ramping up spending in November, perplexing analysts who had expected strong retail sales in December in light of rising job growth and sinking gas prices.