Total retail sales inch up in February but miss estimates

Consumers are still spending, but at a slower pace compared to recent months. Core retail sales (excludes automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants) rose 0.9% month-over-month in February, based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Sales fell 0.2% year-over-year because of the comparison against unusually high sales in February 2024, according to the National Retail Federation.