US retail falters in Feb, March stimulus lift expected

16 March 2021

 

Summary:  US retail sales drop in February; fall significantly larger than expected figure; credit card, debit card trackers suggest spending lift in early March, ahead of stimulus payments; falls in all retail categories bar one; “vehicles and parts”, “non-store retailers” the largest influences on total.   US retail sales had been trending up since late 2015 but, commencing in late 2018, a series of weak or negative monthly results led...

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