US retail sales rose in March as Americans increased their spending on cars, furniture, clothing, and building materials, new figures show. The Commerce Department says retail sales jumped 0.9 per cent last month, after a 0.5 per cent decline in February. The retail rise was the first in four months. The rebound suggests US shoppers are returning after an unseasonably cold winter froze sales. Warmer weather fuelled a 2.7 per cent increase in auto sales and a 2.1 per cent boost in building materi