Washington, DC, May 12--Retail sales rose 1.4% in April, according to the Commerce Department. The increase came after an upwardly revised 0.4% increase in March. March sales were originally reported as having increased 0.3%.
Economists had been expecting April retail sales to increase 0.8%.
The overall retail sales increase was helped by a 2.5% jump autos and auto parts sales. Sales at station sales rose 1.9% driven up by higher gas prices. Sales grew 2.2% in March.
Sales at general merchandise stores and building material and garden equipment dealers had particularly large gains.
The 1.4% increase in overall retail sales was the largest climb since September sales rose 1.8%. Excluding gasoline store sales, demand at other retailers rose 1.3% in April, after rising 0.2% in March.
Excluding auto and gasoline sales, sales rose 1.0% in April.
Sales in April rose 2.8% at clothing stores, 1.5% at general merchandise stores, 0.1% at furniture stores, 0.9% at restaurants and bars, 0.7% at food and beverage stores, 0.7% at health/personal care stores, 0.4% at mail order and Internet retailers, and 1.2% at building material and garden stores.
Sales fell 0.1% at electronics and appliance stores and 0.3% at sporting goods, hobby and book stores.
