Wholesale Inflation Inches Up Marginally To 0.53 Pc In March

March Retail Sales , Exceeded Expectations. New Commerce Department data surprised some analysts on April 15, 'The Hill' reports. . The agency's latest estimates indicate that March retail sales increased by 0.7%. They were only expected to rise 0.3% last month. While sales exceeded estimates for March, the jump was still below the 0.9% increase in February. Compared to the same time last year, total sales for the first three months of 2024 were up 2.1%. On April 10, the Labor Department released data showing that inflation rose last month. . The consumer price index (CPI) increased 0.4% in March and 3.5% annually. In February, consumer prices increased 3.2% year-over-year. . Still, the newest Commerce Department data suggests that Americans continue to spend despite prolonged inflation, 'The Hill' reports.