Overview

• Retail sales rose by 0.2% in February, a small recovery from January's revised 1.2% decline, according to the Commerce Department.
• The increase was lower than the 0.7% growth forecasted by economists, signaling weaker-than-expected consumer spending.
• Sales grew in sectors like grocery stores and online retail but declined at auto dealers, restaurants, and electronics stores.
• Consumer sentiment has dropped to its lowest level in over two years, driven by concerns over tariffs, federal worker layoffs, and inflation.
• Economists project slower economic growth for the first quarter, with GDP estimates ranging from a 2.4% contraction to 1.2% growth.