Retail sales rose 0.5% to $41.0 billion in February. Gains were reported in 7 of 11 subsectors, representing 56% of total retail sales. Excluding sales at gasoline stations and motor vehicles and parts dealers, sales advanced 0.8%. After removing the effects of price changes, retail sales in volume terms rose 0.1%. Health and personal care stores (+2.6%) recorded the largest advance in dollar terms among all subsectors on the strength of higher sales at pharmacies and drug stores and, to a lesser extent, food supplement stores. Retail sales at general merchandise stores grew 1.4%. Sales in the "other general ... (full story)