U.S. retail sales decline unexpectedly in February

WASHINGTON ― U.S. retail sales fell by 0.5 percent on a monthly basis in February, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau data. On a yearly basis, sales rose by 4.9 percent. The monthly decline almost negated January’s upwardly revised 0.6 percent gain. Economists had expected sales to edge up by 0.2 percent.