Dive Summary:

• Despite the new payroll tax for Americans in 2013, retail spending remained surprisingly strong throughout the first quarter into 2013.
• Despite a possible down trend due to the recent jobs report, the Reuters/University of Michigan report of consumer sentiment remains a source of optimism.
• Total retail sales for March are expected to drop 0.2% when the report is released Friday, April 12, 2013.
   

From the article:

“Bucking the weakening trend in March was the Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment index. The index posted a surprising gain at the end of March and economists expect the trend continued at the start this month. The median forecast calls for the preliminary April index to rise to 79.5 from 78.6 at the end of March.”