By Greg Robb
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - Sales at U.S. retailers increased 0.4% in March to a seasonally adjusted $396.3 billion, the Commerce Department estimated Wednesday. This is the ninth straight increase in retail sales but the smallest gain since the string started last July. Sales rose an upwardly revised 1.1% in February. Details of the March report were weak as much of the sales gain came from by higher gasoline prices. Excluding gasoline, retail sales rose 0.1% in March. Ahead of the report, economists surveyed by MarketWatch expected total sales to rise 0.5% in March. Excluding the 1.7% drop in motor vehicle sales, retail sales rose 0.8%. Economists had expected a 0.7% increase. Core sales, excluding autos, gasoline and building materials, rose 0.4% in March after a 1.1% gain in Feb.
