The report said retail sales climbed by 0.7 percent in March after advancing by an upwardly revised 0.9 percent in February.

The stronger than expected retail sales growth came despite a pullback in sales by motor vehicle and parts dealers, which slid by 0.7 percent in March after spiking by 2.5 percent in February.

Excluding the decrease in auto sales retail sales jumped by 1.1 percent in March after climbing by 0.6 percent in February.

The sharp increase in ex-auto sales partly reflected a 2.7 percent spike in sales by non-store retailers along with a 2.1 percent surge in sales by miscellaneous store retailers.

The report also showed sales by gas stations shot up by 2.1 percent in March after jumping by 1.6 percent in February amid higher gas prices.

While sales by general merchandise stores also saw a notable increase, sales by sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, and book stores; clothing and accessories stores; and electronics and appliance stores slumped.

The report also said core retail sales, which exclude automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services, jumped by 1.1 percent in March after rising by 0.3 percent in February.

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