Retail sales up 1.8 percent in March

WASHINGTON, April 13 (UPI) -- U.S. retail sales were up 1.8 percent in March, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday.

Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food sales for March were $333 billion, up 1.8 percent from February and up 8.2 percent from March 2003.

Sales of building materials and garden equipment and supplies leapt 20.8 percent from year-ago figures and 10.6 percent from February. During March, auto and auto parts sales were up 2.1 percent, and clothing sales grew 1.9 percent.

Compared with March 2003, food and drink sales were up 11.1 percent, electronics and appliances sales were up 10.9 percent, while motor vehicle and parts sales grew by 7.2 percent.