Retail Sales in U.S. Increased More Than Forecast in March

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-16/retail-sales-in-u-s-increased-more-than-forecast-in-march.html

The 0.8 percent gain was almost three times as large as projected and followed a 1 percent advance in February, Commerce Department figures showed today in Washington. The median forecast of 81 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News called for a rise of 0.3 percent. Eleven of 13 categories showed increases.

Americans snapped up Apple Inc. (AAPL) iPads and clothing at chains like Gap Inc. (GPS) and Target Corp. (TGT), indicating an improving job market is boosting incomes and giving households enough confidence to sustain spending in the face of higher fuel costs. Better consumer demand raises the odds that the expansion in the world’s largest economy will endure.

Manufacturing in the New York region expanded in April at the slowest pace in five months, a sign the pickup in factory production is moderating, another report today showed.