US retail sales posted a stronger-than-expected increase in March, as the Iran war pushed up gasoline prices and boosted revenue at gas stations, while tax refunds supported consumption spending in other areas.The US Census Bureau under the Department of Commerce said on Tuesday that retail sales rose 1.7% last month, above market expectations of a 1.4% increase. The February gain was revised upward to 0.7%.Related NewsRetail Sales YoY for Mar in the United States is 4.0%, higher than the previous value of 3.7%.The conflict involving the US and Israel against Iran drove global oil prices up by more than 30%. According to data from the US Energy Information Administration, retail gasoline prices surged 24.1% in March.Data from the Internal Revenue Service showed that, as of March 27, the average tax refund increased by USD351 compared with the same period in 2025. The Treasury estimates that the average refund will be USD1,000 higher than in fiscal year 2024.(to/s)Related NewsEIA Crude Oil Stocks Change for Apr/17 in the United States is 1.925M, higher than the previous value of -0.913M. The forecast was -1.2M.
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