Retail sales post worse-than-expected showing

WASHINGTON (AP) - March 13, 2008 The Commerce Department reported Thursday that /*retail sales*/ fell by 0.6 percent last month, far worse than the 0.2 percent increase that analysts had been expecting.

The weakness was widespread with sales of autos, furniture and appliances all down.

It marked the second time in the past three months that retail sales have taken a tumble. Sales had fallen by an even bigger 0.7 percent in December, the largest drop in six months, as the nation's retailers suffered through a dismal holiday shopping season. Sales posted a modest 0.4 percent gain in January.

Consumer spending is closely watched because it accounts for two-thirds of total economic activity. Many economists believe that the country will suffer a mild /*recession*/ in the first half of this year as the economy is unable to withstand the blows from a prolonged slump in housing, record-high energy prices and a severe credit crisis brought on by soaring mortgage defaults.

In another report, the Labor Department said that the number of laid-off workers filing applications for unemployment benefits was unchanged this past week at 353,000, the same number as last week. That was a slightly better showing than analysts had been expecting although the benefit applications remain at elevated levels indicating the labor market is under stress.

The government reported last week that employers slashed payrolls by 63,000 in February, the second straight monthly decline in employment and the most dramatic evidence to date that the country could be sliding into a recession.

A third report Thursday showed that U.S. import prices rose last month by 0.2 percent after jumping an even larger 1.6 percent in January. Compared to a year ago, import prices are up a sharp 13.6 percent, reflecting the fact that petroleum prices are up 60.9 percent over the past year.

The rising cost of imported goods reflects the bind the Federal Reserve faces at the current time as it must deal with the twin threats of a sluggish economy and higher inflation.

Analysts expect that the Fed will continue to emphasize its battle against recession and cut interest rates sharply when officials hold a regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the government said that inventories held by businesses on shelves and backlots shot up by 0.8 percent in January, the largest amount in nearly two years. That gain was much larger than the 0.5 percent increase that had been expected and it followed a sizable 0.7 percent rise in December.

The big jump likely reflected an unwanted rise in inventories as business confidence falters in the face of the sharp slowdown in overall economic activity.