US retail sales have picked up sharply in February despite a payroll tax hike, driven largely by a surge in petrol prices, government data shows.
Retail and food services sales rose 1.1 per cent from January, the Commerce Department reported, much stronger than the 0.5 per cent increase estimated by analysts.
The department revised upward the January increase in retail sales to 0.2 per cent.
The February gain was the biggest in five months, pushing year-over-year sales up 4.6 per cent from February 2012.
Petrol sales at the pump jumped 5.0 per cent, after a 3.6 per cent rise in January, as petrol prices soared over the period.
Car sales rebounded, rising 1.1 per cent after falling 0.3 per cent in January, and building materials and garden supplies sales increased 1.1 per cent.
Excluding car sales, which tend to be volatile month-over-month, retail sales rose 1.0 per cent, double the gain expected.
Online shopping rose 1.6 per cent.
The robust February numbers came despite consumers' smaller pay packets after the January 1 expiration of a payroll tax cut.
The report suggested resiliency in consumer spending, which accounts for 70 per cent of US economic activity.
"At least so far, the increase in taxes has had minimal impact on household spending, showing that the economy retains a lot of momentum," said Joel Naroff of Naroff Economic Advisors.
Growth was not broad-based. Consumers cut back spending on furniture and home furnishings and in department stores, sporting goods, book and music stores, and restaurants and bars.
Core retail sales, those excluding cars, petrol and building materials - a better indication of the pace of consumer spending - were up 0.4 per cent.
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