Official figures have shown that US retail sales unexpectedly rose 0.2% in March, pushed up by a jump in petrol sales.
Sales at petrol stations rose 1.1%, the Commerce Department said. Excluding petrol, retail sales were flat last month, evidence that consumers are wary about spending in an economy that appears to be contracting.
Excluding cars, retail sales rose 0.1%, in line with expectations. Sales at shops selling items connected to housing were down. Building materials and supplies sales slid 1.6%, while furniture and appliance store sales were also down.
Clothing store and general merchandise stores also saw declines in sales. But some types of stores saw gains. Food and beverage store sales were up 0.4% and non-store retailer sales rose 2.1%.
