Retail sales break 3-month slide

Retail sales rose in March, the first monthly increase since November, boosted by stronger auto sales.

American consumers' increased spending boosted retail sales by a seasonally adjusted 0.9% in February as motor vehicle dealers, building materials and garden equipment stores and furniture stores all reported healthy sales increases for the month. That was the best gain in a month since March 2014 when sales rose 1.5%.

Gasoline stations, food and beverage stores and electronics and appliance stores showed the largest decreases of any categories in March, all less than 1%.

Retail sales, excluding the volatile categories of gasoline stations, motor vehicle sales and building materials, also rose for the first month since November -- 0.3%.

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