Retail sales in the US continued to grow in February, with a resilient labour market and wage increases supporting consumer spending, latest data from the National Retail Federation (NRF) showed.

Building off solid gains in January, total retail sales, excluding automobiles and gasoline, rose 1.06 per cent seasonally adjusted month over month and 6.3 per cent unadjusted year over year in February, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor, powered by Affinity Solutions, and released by NRF. That compared with a decrease of 0.16 per cent month over month and an increase of 2.34 per cent year over year in January.

Clothing and accessories stores, which include jewellery businesses, were up 0.51 per cent month over month and up 8.05 per cent year over year unadjusted.

“February retail sales indicate continued momentum from consumers,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay. “While the future direction of interest rates and inflation remains uncertain, it’s clear that a strong job market and increases in real wages are continuing to support spending.”