Online retailers buck the trend
Monthly sales for retail and food services in February were US$370.5 billion, an increase of just 0.1 per cent from the previous month, but 3.2 per cent compared with the same month last year, according to the US Census Bureau.

Total sales for the quarter to February were up 3.7 per cent against the same period last year.

The exceptions were non-store retailers, predominantly online operators, for whom sales raced ahead 9.1 per cent and health and personal care stores, which were up 6.1 per cent.

The figures come after numbers released by the International Council of Shopping Centres (ICSC) last Friday showed a combination of below-average temperatures and winter storms dampened consumer spending in the US during February.

ICSC chief economist and director of research Michael Niemira said: 'Typically, February has the second-lowest monthly sales volume of the year and can often be affected by adverse weather conditions.'

He added that US chain store sales should increase about 4 per cent in March. 'The Easter calendar shift will drive consumer demand for spring apparel and seasonal merchandise,' he said.

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