Retail Sales Continue Momentum in February

New York, NY, March 2, 2011 -- Retail sales in February rose in most categories, according to figures released by MasterCard Advisors' SpendingPulse.

SpendingPulse, which tracks spending in all forms including cash, show furniture sales rose 4%, the fourth consecutive monthly increase for that category, one of the hardest-hit during the recession.

"The momentum we've been seeing over the past several months is more or less continuing to hold," said Michael McNamara, vice president of research and analysis at SpendingPulse.

However, rising gasoline prices could put a damper on spending.

Online sales rose 13.2.%, higher than store sales