U.S. retail sales rose a seasonally adjusted 0.4% to $366.4 billion U.S. in April, the seventh straight increase and the 12th gain in the past 13 months, led by strong sales at hardware stores and garden centers, the Commerce Department estimated Friday.
Excluding a 0.5% increase in auto sales, sales rose 0.4% to $303.5 billion U.S.
April's figures came in stronger than expected, as economists surveyed by MarketWatch had been looking for a 0.2% decline in overall sales and a 0.2% gain excluding autos.
Adding to the upside surprise, sales in February and March were each revised higher by two-10ths of a percentage point.
March's sales gain was boosted to 2.1% from 1.9%. Sales excluding autos rose by 1.2% in March, revised up from the 0.9% figure previously reported.
The figures are adjusted for seasonal factors, but not for price changes. Although the government's statisticians attempt to adjust for the timing of Easter, it's not an exact science.
Accordingly, most economists recommend averaging March and April together to get a more-accurate view of where the economy is going. Sales rose an average of 1.3% in the two months.
Retail sales have been surprisingly strong, in light of the still-weak financial condition of many American families, and so economists were looking for a bit of a pullback in April.
Consumers are still facing major challenges, including weak job growth, large levels of debt and slow income growth. But consumers also have many pent-up demands after two years of recession.
Compared with April 2009, sales were up 8.8%.
Sales were mixed across retail sectors last month, with a strong 6.9% gain at hardware stores and garden centers outweighing falling sales at mall-type stores. Sales at hardware stores had increased 7.8% in March. Read the full report on the government Web site.
The 0.5% increase in sales of motor vehicle for April came on the heels of a 6.7% jump in March.
Furniture store sales fell 1.2% on the month, as sales at electronics and appliance stores dropped 0.4%
Building materials sales increased 6.9%.
Sales at the malls were lower. Sales at general merchandise stores fell 0.4% including a 1.5% drop at department stores. Sales at clothing stores declined 1%.
Sales at stores catering to leisure-time pursuits, such as hobbies, sports and reading, fell 1.9%.
Sales at health and personal-care stores rose 0.9%.
Sales at food and beverage stores fell 0.5%. Sales at restaurants and bars rose 0.1%.
Sales at non-store outlets, such as catalogs and online stores, increased 0.2%.
