"Consumer Caution: Retail Sales Rebound Amidst Economic Cooling"

Retail sales in the U.S. rebounded by 0.6% in February, but consumers may be growing more cautious due to high interest rates and rising prices for everyday goods. Excluding volatile measurements, sales rose just 0.3%, falling short of expectations. While spending increased in some sectors like electronics and gas stations, it declined in others such as furniture and online shopping. Economists speculate that consumers may become more cautious as student loan payments resume and credit card debt reaches record levels, leading to trade-offs in budgeting and a preference for services spending over goods categories.