The nation's consumers went into hibernation in February, sales figures released Thursday by the country's top retailers show.
Consumers are cautious.
They are not inclined to spend. The index reflects growth in same-store sales, those in shops open at least a year, at 60 of the nation's retailers. Meanwhile, the data released by the top names in the U.S. retail sector showed much the same picture. At such times, consumers tend to stick to staple items and seek out discounts, trends that were reflected in February sales data. Specialty apparel retailers and department stores tended to fare poorly, with many posting sales declines.