WASHINGTON, May 12 (UPI) -- U.S. retail sales and food service sales rose 0.5 percent in April from March, the Commerce Department said Thursday.
The rise in sales, which climbed to $389.4 billion, was one tick lower than the consensus forecast of 0.6. From the same month a year ago, however, sales rose 7.6 percent.
From February through April, total sales were up 8.1 percent from the same period a year earlier.
Sales figures are adjusted for seasonal variations and holidays but not for price changes.
Sales at automobile dealerships and parts facilities rose 0.2 percent from March to April and 11 percent from April 2010. Furniture sales fell 1.1 percent month-to-month but rose 0.8 percent compared to April 2010.
Gasoline station sales had the largest jumps from a month earlier and a year earlier. Sales at gasoline stations rose 2.7 percent from March and 21.9 percent from April 2010.
At non-store retailers, including catalog sales and online sales, sales climbed 1 percent from March to April. Compared to April 2010, non-store sales rose 15.5 percent, the department said.
