Retailers rebound as spring nears

U.S. retailers posted a gain in same-store sales in February that surpassed analysts’ estimates, driven by department stores, as more confident shoppers embraced the arrival of warm-weather goods.

Same-store sales at Macy’s, the second-largest U.S. department store chain, rose 5.8 percent, compared with the 3.7 percent average gain from analysts’ estimates compiled by Retail Metrics Inc. Revenue increased 6.4 percent at JCPenney and 5 percent at Kohl’s, both surpassing projections.