U.S. retail sales rise 1.4 per cent in March

NEW YORK — U.S. shoppers stepped up their shopping last month, fueled by a spending spree on big ticket items, particularly cars, before U.S. President Donald Trump's expansive new tariffs started kicking in. But analysts were quick to point out that the data wasn't a sign of strength but underscored the extreme economic uncertainty that shoppers face and how they want to get ahead of higher prices. Retail sales rose 1.4 per cent in March, after rising 0.2 per cent in February, according to the Commerce Department. Retail sales fell 1.2 per cent in January, hurt in part by cold…