U.S. retail ticks up

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Census Bureau announced that advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for March were $433.9 billion, an increase of 1.1% from the previous month, and 3.8% above March 2013. Total sales for the January 2014 through March 2014 period were up 2.5% from the same period a year ago. Retail trade sales were up 1.1% from February 2014, and 3.7% above last year.