The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for March, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $389.3 billion, an increase of 0.4 percent (±0.5%)* from the previous month, and 7.1 percent (±0.7%) above March 2010. Total sales for the January through March 2011 period were up 8.1 percent (±0.5%) from the same period a year ago. The January to February 2011 percent change was revised from +1.0 percent (±0.5%) to +1.1 percent (±0.2%). Retail trade sales were up 0.3 percent (±0.5%)* from February 2011, and 7.3 percent (±0.7%) above last year. Gasoline stations sales were up 16.7 percent (±1.7%) from March 2010 and nonstore retailers sales were up 12.4 percent (±3.1%) from last year. Retail and food services sales, excluding autos, were up 0.8 percent, consistent with private-sector expectations. Motor vehicle sales fell 1.7 percent. Sales at gasoline stations comprise about 10 percent of total retail sales.

“Two years after the worst recession in generations, our economy is strengthening and businesses are hiring again; today’s numbers are another sign of continued growth,” U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said. “But many American families and businesses are now facing an additional burden because of rising gas prices. This underlines our vulnerability to fluctuating oil markets and the need to improve domestic energy production and transition to a clean energy economy."