Retail sales decreased 0.2% to $66.4 billion in March. Sales were down in seven of nine subsectors and were led by decreases at furniture, home furnishings, electronics and appliances retailers. Core retail sales—which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers—were down 0.6% in March. In volume terms, retail sales decreased 0.4% in March. Retail sales were down 0.2% in the first quarter, while in volume terms, retail sales increased 0.3%. Core retail sales were down 0.6% in March. This was the first decrease for core retail sales in four months. The decline was broad-based with ... (full story)