On a monthly basis, retail sales increased 0.3% from January to February (seasonally adjusted, after revisions), and sales were up 4.5% from February 2009 (easy comparison). UPDATE: January was revised down sharply. Jan was originally reported at $355.8 billion, an increase of 0.5% from December. February was reported at $355.5 billion – a decline without the revision to January. January has been revised down to $354.3 or an increase of 0.1% from December. Click on graph for larger image in new window. This graph shows retail sales since 1992. This is monthly retail sales, seasonally adjusted (total and ex-gasoline). The red line shows retail sales ex-gasoline and shows the increase in final demand ex-gasoline has been sluggish. Retail sales are up 6.0% from the bottom, but still off 6.4% from the peak.

Read more here – Retail Sales increase in February