March retail sales above-expected +1.6%,....>

US DATA: March retail sales above-expected +1.6%, ex-mtr veh +1.2%, 

while inital claims below-expected -5k to 192k.

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- March retail sales +1.6%, higher than +1.0% exp by BBG & MNI, and 

following no revision to Feb sales. 

- March sales ex-mtr veh +1.2%, above +0.7% exp by BBG & +0.8% exp MNI. 

- Initial unemployment claims below exp in the Apr 13 wk, -5k to 192k vs 

205k exp by BBG and 206k exp by an MNI survey; lowest since the Sep 6, 

1969 wk (182k).

- Initial claims -24k from March 16 employment survey week (216k).

- 4-wk moving average -19,250 from March 16 survey week (220,500).

- The claims 4-wk moving avg -6,000 to 201,250 in the Apr 13 wk, the 

lowest since the Nov 1, 1969 wk; may fall next week as 212k level in Mar 

23 wk rolls out. 

- Continuing claims -63k to 1.653m in the Apr 6 wk.

- March sales ex. mtr veh and gas +0.9%, control group (ex. mv, gas, 

bldg mat, and food services) +1.0%.

- March vehicle sales +3.1%, gas station sales +3.5%, ex. only gas +1.4%. 

- Feb sales were unrevised at -0.2%, Jan sales rev up to +0.8%.

- Feb ex-mtr veh sales rev up to -0.2%, Jan +1.4%.

- Q1 retail sales are +0.2% SAAR from Q4. Sales ex mtr veh stand +0.8% 

SAAR from Q4, and control group sales +2.6% SAAR, so Q1 PCE growth 

is tracking strong due to strength in the core categories that partially 

offset weakness in February.