In what some economists say is a sign that consumer confidence is increasing, U.S. retail sales posted an unexpected 0.3% gain in February. The Commerce Department had forecast a 0.2% decline for the month.
The gain could have been better if not for a 2% decline in auto sales, contributed to by the troubles with Toyota models. February marked the fourth month in the past five that retail sales have risen.
The economy´s prospects would improve if businesses invested rising earnings into re-hiring workers. Since December 2007, the beginning of the recession, U.S. businesses have slashed 8.4 million jobs. The economy began growing again last summer.
