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DJ Redbook: US Retail Sales First 2 Weeks March Up 1.6% Vs Feb

NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--Redbook Research's latest indicator of national retail sales rose 1.6% in the first two weeks of March compared with the previous month, according to data released Tuesday.

The index's gain was below a targeted increase of 2.0%, according to the report.

The Johnson Redbook Index also showed seasonally adjusted sales in the two-week period rose 1.1% compared with March 2007, short of a targeted increase of 1.4%.

March is a five-week month on the retail calendar ending April 5.

Redbook said on an unadjusted basis, sales in the week ended March 15 were up 1.1% versus a year ago, following a 1% gain a week earlier.