Ex autos +0.1% and previous month revised to -0.1% from -0.2%.  All are better than expectations.  However, analysts are warning about the the effects of gas on the release and adjusted for inflation, spending is down more.  Ex Gas, the sales were 0.0% gain.  So the higher gas prices are boosting retail sales. 

                                        March  Feb.
                                        2008   2008
======================================
                       
Retail & food service          0.2%  -0.4%
Ex-autos                           0.1%  -0.1%
Ex-gas                              0.0%  -0.3%

From sector standpoint the increase in food and gas are where people are buying:

                                     MAR     FEB
Motor vehicles, parts        0.2%  -1.2%
Furniture                       -0.3%  -1.2%
Electronics                     -0.4%   0.0%
Building materials          -1.6%  -0.1%
Food, beverages            0.4%   0.0%
Health, personal care      -0.1%   0.5%
Gasoline stations           1.1%  -0.5%
Clothing                         -0.5%  -0.9%
Sporting goods               1.4%  -0.4%
General merchandise      -0.6%   0.3%
 Department stores          0.0%   0.1%

Stocks doing a little better.