Retail sales across the country picked up by about 0.3 percent in February compared to a month earlier and were up almost 4 percent from the same month last year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Increased gasoline and non-store retail sales fueled the increase, rising 24 percent and 11 percent, respectively.
Sales of building materials were off almost 7 percent compared to a year earlier while electronics and furniture store sales each fell about 3 percent.
The Census Bureau estimates that Americans spent $355.5 billion in February when taking into account seasonal adjustments and holiday trading.
