The combined value of distributive trade sales and manufacturers’ shipments for February, adjusted for seasonal and trading day differences but not for price changes, was estimated at $1,446.8 billion, up 0.1% from January and up 2.4% from February 2018, the Census Bureau reported.

Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for March, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $514.1 billion, an increase of 1.6% from the previous month, and 3.6% above March 2018. Total sales for the January through March period were up 2.9% from the same period a year ago. Retail trade sales were up 1.7% from February, and 3.5% above last year. Nonstore retailers were up11.6% from March 2018, while sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, and book stores were down 9.7% from last year.

Privately‐owned housing starts in March were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,139,000. This is 0.3% below the revised February estimate of 1,142,000 and is 14.2% below the March 2018 rate of 1,327,000. Single‐family housing starts in March were at a rate of 785,000; this is 0.4% below the revised February figure of 788,000. The March rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 337,000.

Thursday, the Dow gained 110.00 points (0.42%) to finish at 26,559.54, the NASDAQ was up 1.98 points (0.02%) at 7,998.06, and the S&P 500 closed 4.58 points (0.16%) higher at 2,905.03. The Russell 2000 was down 1.85 points (0.12%) at 1,565.75, and the Wilshire 5000 increased 37.50 points (0.13%) to 29,981.14.

The price of the 10-year Treasury note was up 9/32, decreasing its yield to 2.563%. The price of the 30-year Treasury bond increased 22/32, bringing its yield down to 2.961%.