Retail Sales Rose Slightly Last Month

Retail sales slowed to a 0.2 percent gain in March, curbed by a decline in automobile purchases and a lackluster Easter shopping season.

The Commerce Department said Friday sales totaled a seasonally adjusted $215.6 billion, up from $215.1 billion in February. It was the smallest increase since a 0.1 percent drop last November.

But the report showed sales in February were stronger than previously thought. They were revised up to 1.5 percent, from the 0.8 percent initial estimate. Sales had jumped 1.7 percent in January.

Many analysts had expected an increase of about 0.6 percent last month. They said a March Easter may have helped sales somewhat, but not as much as retailers had hoped. Easter fell in April last year.

Major retailers reported Thursday that sales in March, while posting modest gains, fell short of expectations.

Sales of durable goods, held back by the automobile slump, edged up 0.1 percent after roaring ahead 3.1 percent in February. It was the smallest advance since a 0.3 percent decline in November. Durable goods are expected to last more than three years.