Retail sales rose more than expected in February

Americans stepped up their spending at US retailers in February, after three consecutive months of declines, showing the US consumer hasn’t tapped out yet in the face of weak job growth and low consumer sentiment.

Retail sales rose 0.6% in February from the prior month, the Commerce Department said Wednesday, up from January’s downwardly revised -0.1%. Wednesday’s figure was higher than the 0.4% increase economists projected in a poll by data firm FactSet.

Retail sales are adjusted for seasonal swings but not inflation. The February retail sales report was delayed a few weeks because