Retail Sales Up 0.4%; Ex-Autos Climb 0.4%

WASHINGTON — Retail sales increased 0.4% in April, above economists’ estimates and the seventh straight monthly increase, the Commerce Department reported Friday.

Retail sales excluding autos and parts increased 0.4% in April and were revised higher to a 1.2% jump from the originally reported 0.6% rise in March.

Economists polled by Thomson Reuters expected retail sales to increase 0.2% in April and for sales excluding autos to increase 0.4%, according to the median estimate.

Total retail sales in March were revised higher to a 2.1% increase from the 1.9% gain originally reported. Sales in February were revised to a 0.6% increase, up from a 0.4% gain.

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