Retail sales rise 0.6% in February, but impact of Iran war threatens to derail spending

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NEW YORK (AP) — Shoppers increased their spending in February after pulling back at the start of the year, reflecting volatile and cautious activity by American consumers even before the Iran war sent gasoline prices soaring. Retail sales rose a better-than-expected 0.6% in February, after registering a 0.1% decline in January, the Commerce Department said Wednesday. There is a concern that Americans, already squeezed by years of elevated inflation, will cut spending further. Gas sped past an av