尽管美国部分地区上个月遭受的暴风雪可能使商业放缓，但美国2月份零售额依然上升。商务部星期五公布的报告说，2月份零售额增长0.3%。
经济学家密切关注销售数据是因为美国大约70%的经济活动受消费者需求的推动。2月份汽车销售下降，可能是受到丰田汽车召回和恶劣天气的影响。除波动较大的汽车行业以外，其他行业的销售额增长0.8%。一些分析人士说，零售数据可能意味着消费者支出可能较预期更快地复苏并推动经济增长。
U.S. retail sales rose in February, in spite of record snowfalls in some parts of the country that were expected to slow business.Friday's report from the Commerce Department says retail sales gained three-tenths of a percent.
Economists watch retail sales closely because consumer demand drives about 70 percent of U.S. economic activity.Auto sales declined, perhaps hurt by Toyota recalls and foul weather. Outside that volatile area, sales in the rest of the economy gained eight-tenths of a percent.Some analysts say the figures may mean that consumer spending will recover and contribute to economic growth sooner than they expected.
