WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. consumers sent
spending indexes March to highest increases since November by buying
more cars, furniture and appliances after three months of declining
retail sales.
The Commerce Department says retail sales rose 0.6 percent last month as
auto sales jumped 2 percent, the most in six months.
Retail sales slipped in the first two months of the year as consumers
pulled back after heavy spending during the winter holidays. Last
month's figures suggest Americans are returning to more free-spending
ways. Economists predict that healthy consumer confidence, steady job
gains and the impact of tax cuts will fuel solid spending growth in the
months ahead.
Sales rose at grocery stores, restaurants and bars, and drug stores.
They fell at home and garden stores, clothing shops and sporting goods
stores.
(Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material
may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) |
|