Data issued moments ago by the US Census Bureau showed a decline in US retail sales, which fell short of market expectations, as sales declined by about 4% in February to reach $697.9 billion, compared to a rise of about 3.2% in January’s revised reading, while expectations were for declines of about 0.3%.

Underlying sales excluding car prices recorded a decrease in February by 0.1% compared to an increase of about 2.4% recorded in the January reading after adjustment, as food services and drinking places increased by 15.3%, while sales of general merchandise stores increased by 10.5% on an annual basis.

On the other hand, figures issued by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics showed a decrease in the Producer Price Index (PPI) by 0.1% in February, after an increase of 0.3% in January, to come below expectations, which indicated an increase of about 0.3%, while the main index settled at 0.0%, while the index rose on An annual basis of 4.6%.

The index excluding food and energy prices rose 0.2% in February after rising 0.5% in January and rose 4.4% year on year after the energy price index fell 0.2%.

Manufacturing activity in New York State continued to decline, according to the Empire State Manufacturing Survey for March, by 24.6 points, compared to a decrease of about 5.8 points in the February reading.