US retail sales rise in Feb

US retail sales rose for the first time in two months in February, official figures have shown. The figures suggest the world's largest economy is gaining in strength after suffering the third-coldest winter on record. Retailers reported that sales rose 0.3 per cent in the month, the US Commerce Department said, after falling by a revised 0.6 per cent in January. The figure beat economists' forecasts for a more modest rise of 0.2 per cent. Last month's rebound almost brought retail spending back to its December levels. Over the past 12 months, retail sales have risen 1.5 per cent. The unusually cold winter, combined with heavier than usual snowfall, caused widespread disruption at the end of last year and continued to do so into the first half of February. The cold weather continued to help sales of building materials and garden equipment, which increased 0.3 per cent as consumers bought snow shovels, on top of a 1.4 per cent rise in the sector in January, according to a news agency.