US retail sales rose slightly more-than-expected in March and far more than earlier reported in February while manufacturing in the New York region was weaker than expected after hitting a two-month low, reports out today showed.
Retail sales rose by 0.7 per cent as warmer weather and an earlier-than-usual Easter holiday encouraged shoppers in March. Excluding automobiles and parts, sales were up a somewhat smaller-than-expected 0.8 per cent, according to the Commerce Department report.
Sales for February were revised up sharply and economists took this as a good sign the consumer -- which fuels two-thirds of economic growth - is still going strong. Excluding gasoline, sales were up 0.4 per cent in March after rising by the same margin the prior month.
US Treasury debt prices rose briefly on Monday before turning downward. US stocks were set to open higher. The latest retail sales figure left economists expecting first-quarter economic growth may be stronger than first thought, particularly after the strong upward revisions to the February sales numbers.
Figures for the prior month were revised up, to a 0.5 per cent rise in overall sales from the scant 0.1 per cent reported initially. Excluding autos, sales were revised to a 0.4 per cent gain in February from a 0.1 per cent fall.