--US April retail sales +0.8%; ex-automotive sales +0.7%
--US March retail sales revised to -0.4% from -0.2%
--US March ex-auto retail sales revised to -0.4% from -0.1%
--US April durable goods sales +0.7%; non-durable sales +0.9%
--US April auto sales +1.0%; durable goods ex-autos +0.3%
--US April building material sales +1.5%; furniture -0.5%
--US April department store sales +1.8%; food stores +0.1%
--US April gas station sales +2.5%; ex-gasoline, retail sales +0.7%

By Edward Kean
Washington, May 11 (BridgeNews) - U.S. retail sales rebounded sharply in April, rising a much stronger-than-expected 0.8%, the Commerce Department reported Friday. Excluding autos, sales climbed 0.7%. Wall Street analysts had expected sales to be reported up just 0.1% and ex-auto sales to increase 0.4%.
* * * Sales posted their first rise since January. In March, sales fell a revised 0.4%, last reported down 0.2%; excluding autos, sales were revised to down 0.4% from the 0.1% dip initially reported. February sales figures also were revised downward.
The April sales gains were broad-based, led by strength in department stores, gasoline stations and auto dealers.
The robust April sales figures suggest consumer spending is remaining surprisingly resilient despite the rise in unemployment in recent months and the sharp drop in consumer confidence surveys. Today's figures may cast doubt on predictions that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates by as much as one-half percentage point May 15.

DURABLE GOODS
Sales of durable goods--those designed to last more than three years and so most sensitive to interest rates because they are usually bought with borrowed money--rose 0.7%. In the prior month, durable good sales fell a revised 0.3%.
Automobile sales increased 1.0%, after declining a revised 0.2% in March.
Excluding autos, durable goods sales were up 0.3% in April, after falling 0.4% in March.
Building material sales jumped 1.5%, after dropping a revised 1.0% in March. However, furniture sales fell 0.5%, following a revised 1.1% decrease in March.

NON-DURABLE GOODS
Sales of non-durable goods climbed 0.9%, more than reversing a revised 0.4% decrease in March.
Retail activity at the nation's department stores improved, surging 1.8% in April after having fallen a revised 0.7% the previous month. Sales at gasoline stations climbed 2.5%, reversing March's 2.1% decrease.
Gasoline prices surged 20 cents per gallon last month and the Energy Department has predicted they will post the second-highest average level on record this summer.
Excluding gasoline stations, overall retail sales still were strong, rising 0.7%, Commerce said.
Apparel sales also posted sturdy gains last month, rising 1.6%, reversing March's 1.8% drop.

WHAT WAS EXPECTED
The April sales gain was above the range of private estimates for overall sales, which ran from down 0.1 to up 0.4%. Non-automotive sales were seen in a range from up 0.1% to up 0.6%.

OTHER DETAILS, HISTORICALS
--April retail sales rose to a seasonally adjusted $275.549 billion. Sales were up 3.1% versus a year earlier.
--Excluding the automotive sector, sales stood at $207.423 billion. Non-auto sales were 3.3% above their year-earlier level.