Washington, DC, April 13, 2006--Retail sales increased 0.6% in March, the Commerce Department said Thursday, with unexpected strength in auto and building materials sales.
Economists were looking for sales to rise 0.4%.
Excluding the 1.6% rise in auto sales, retail sales increased 0.4%, as expected.
Sales in February were revised higher to show a 0.8% decline from the previously reported 1.4% decline. Sales rose 3% in January.
The report showed a 1.6% rise in auto sales, a 0.1% decline in gas sales and a 1.2% increase in building materials.
Retail sales are up 7.9% in the past year. Excluding autos, sales are up 9.2% in the past year.
In March, sales at general merchandise stores increased 0.1%. Sales at clothing stores were flat. Sales at leisure-time goods stores rose 0.6%.
Sales at electronics and appliance stores fell 1.1%. Sales at furniture stores increased 0.5%. Sales at health and personal care stores rose 0.8%.
Sales at non-store outlets, such as catalogs and online stores, rose 1.6%.
