Consumers returned to their spending ways at local retail stores and digital platforms in February following a sharp drop to kick off the new year.
According to the Department of Commerce, U.S. retail sales rose by 0.2 percent last month, up from a downwardly revised 1.2 percent decline in January.
This fell short of the consensus forecast of 0.6 percent.
Receipts at online retailers soared by 2.4 percent, followed by an increase in sales at health and personal care stores (1.7 percent) and food and beverage locations (0.4 percent).
Transactions at food services and drinking establishments dropped sharply by 1.5 percent, and sales at gasoline stations decreased by 1 percent….