Retail Sales Surged in March to Record Gain

New York, NY, April 8, 2010--Retail sales at stores open at least a year surged last month to post the biggest single monthly gain on record, according to sales tracker Thomson Reuters.

Data indicated that March sales increased 9.1% over last year, the biggest monthly gain since Thomson Reuters began keeping records in 2000. Thomson had expected only a 6.3% increase.

Unusually warm weather, Easter shopping and improved consumer confidence, all helped.