Retail sales rose 2.7% in the week ended March 9, according to the weekly retail sales report released by Johnson Redbook Tuesday.
Sales grew 0.6% from February (relative to a target of a 1.2% gain).
"This year's Easter weekend falls two weeks earlier than it did last year, shifting holiday business into March from April," the report noted. "Sales targets reflect the upward bias caused by the earlier placement of Easter this year, causing retailers to plan for an above average March countered by a below average April."
