The Globe and Mail reports in its Saturday edition that retail sales rose 0.7 per cent to $72.1-billion in February as sales at new and used car dealers climbed, Statistics Canada said Friday. A Canadian Press dispatch to The Globe quotes TD economist Maria Solovieva saying consumers delivered another solid month in February, with early indications pointing to continued strength in March. Looking ahead, Statscan said its advance estimate of overall retail sales for March pointed to a gain of 0.6 per cent, though it cautioned the figure would be revised. "That said, inflation jumped in March, suggesting some of the momentum is being driven by higher prices rather than broadbased demand growth," Ms. Solovieva wrote in a report. "Higher energy prices will dent purchasing power, but we do not expect this to materially weaken domestic demand beyond what's already embedded in our outlook. Together with the drags from weak population growth and trade-related headwinds, the economy is expected to grow at a below-trend pace this year." Statscan said February retail sales rose in seven of the nine subsectors it tracks, boosted by motor vehicle and parts dealers which rose 1 per cent. Sales at new car dealers gained 0.7 per cent.