Commerce Reports Retail Sales Rose 0.5% in February

he Commerce Department reported Tuesday that February retail sales rose 0.5%. Excluding automobiles, sales rose 0.4%, the department said.

The increase to $352.1 billion followed a revised 0.3% gain in January, which had been reported initially as a 0.3% decline, Commerce said.

Retail sales had been forecast to rise 0.6%, and sales excluding autos were expected to rise 0.8%, Bloomberg reported.

Commerce said sales rose 0.7% at automobile dealerships and auto parts stores last month following a 2.1% decline in January.

Sales at non-store retailers, includes online purchases and catalog sales, were unchanged in February following a 1% rise in January. Sales at general merchandise stores, which include department stores, rose 0.7%.

Commerce said sales at electronics and appliance stores increased 1.6%. Building materials sales fell 1.3%, the biggest drop since February 2003, Commerce said.

One auto executive told Bloomberg higher fuel prices may have curtailed automobile sales.

The department reported February sales rose at filling stations rose 0.9%, following a 1.8% increase in January.