Total retail sales posted their biggest gain in four months during February, but the increase was less than some were predicting.

The U.S. Commerce Department released figures showing a 0.3% increase for the month, but that was short of an almost 1% increase that was predicted in a survey of analysts by Reuters.
Retail sales, excluding sales made in restaurants and bars, which generate relatively little freight, posted a 0.2% increase, after a revised 0.1% decline in January.
Among the big gainers for the month were sales at furniture and home furnishing stores, increasing 1.5% in February, following a 0.3% rise in January. Also sales at electronics and appliances stores were strong, increasing 1.1% after posting a more than 3% drop the month before. Sales at clothing stores did just the opposite, retreating 0.1% after posting a 1.4% gain in January.
Newport Communications Senior Economist Jim Haughey says sales have slipped 0.7% from November, but this is more than accounted for by falling gasoline, auto, food, electronics and apparel prices.
“Real volume is slightly up,” he says. “The three growing stores - furniture, electronics and auto - sell expensive durable goods, typically the first consumer products to rebound at the end of weak period in the economy.”
Haughey notes grocery and department store sales typically weaken for several months after an economic upturn begins as people on short hours or layoff watch their spending.