Overall sales by U.S. retailers were up 0.1% in February to $370.5 billion, according to data released by the Commerce Department yesterday.
Excluding input from auto dealerships, sales fell 0.1% to $292.7 billion after a 0.2% increase in January, originally reported as a 0.3% increase.
The increase in February followed an unrevised unchanged level in January.
IFR Markets had projected a rise of 0.3% in retail sales and a 0.3% increase in sales excluding autos.
On a year-over-year adjusted basis, total retail sales were up 3.2% from February 2006, and sales excluding motor vehicles and parts were up 3.1% over the same period.
