(Bloomberg News) Retail sales in the U.S. rose more than forecast in March, showing consumers are weathering the jump in gasoline prices heading into the second quarter.

The 0.8 percent gain was almost three times as large as projected and followed a 1 percent advance in February, Commerce Department figures showed today in Washington. The median forecast of 81 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News called for a rise of 0.3 percent. Eleven of 13 categories showed increases.

Americans snapped up Apple Inc. iPads and clothing at chains like Gap Inc. and Target Corp., indicating an improving job market is boosting incomes and giving households enough confidence to sustain spending in the face of higher fuel costs. Better consumer demand raises the odds that the expansion in the world's largest economy will endure.

"There is no sign that higher fuel prices have damaged consumer sentiment and spending," said Jeremy Lawson, a senior U.S. economist at BNP Paribas in New York. "This is enough to generate solid economic growth. We've seen the job market improve and that's boosting consumption."

Manufacturing in the New York region expanded in April at the slowest pace in five months, a sign the pickup in factory production is moderating, another report today showed.

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York's general economic index decreased to 6.6 this month, less than the most pessimistic forecast in a Bloomberg survey, from 20.2 in March. Readings greater than zero signal expansion inwthe so-called Empire State Index, which covers New York, northern New Jersey and southern Connecticut.

Stock-index futures extended earlier gains after the reports as consumer spending, which accounts for about 70 percent of the economy, was holding up. The contract on the Standard & Poor's 500 Index maturing in June rose 0.6 percent to 1,373 at 8:47 a.m. in New York.

Retail sales were projected to rise after a 1.1 percent gain previously reported for February, according to the Bloomberg survey. Economists' estimates ranged from no change to a gain of 0.9 percent.

Electronics, clothing and furniture stores were among the categories showing gains last month, the report showed.

Electronics may have gotten a lift from the new iPad and some discounts on the older model, economists said. Apple said it sold more than 3 million iPads during the debut weekend for the latest model of the market-leading tablet computer. The tally is a record for opening weekend iPad sales, Cupertino, California- based Apple said in a March 19 statement.

Store chain data released earlier were in sync with today's report. Same-store sales for the more than 20 companies tracked by Swampscott, Massachusetts-based Retail Metrics rose 3.9 percent last month, beating the average estimate for a 3.3 percent gain, as many chains offered discounts and shoppers stocked up early on spring gear.

Sales at Gap, the largest U.S. apparel chain, climbed 8 percent. Target, the second-largest U.S. discount chain, and Macy's Inc., the owner of Bloomingdale's and namesake stores, each posted 7.3 percent increased. All three companies beat the average analyst projection.

Sales may have been helped by better weather as demand at building material stores climbed 3 percent, the most this year. The average temperature was 51.1 degrees Fahrenheit (10.6 degrees Celsius) in March, the warmest on record for the month in the past 117 years, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Sales at automobile dealers defied projections of a decrease as purchases rose 0.9 percent last month, today's report showed. The results are in contrast with industry figures.

Cars and light trucks sold at a 14.3 million annual rate in March, following a 15 million pace the prior month, according to Ward's Automotive Group. Nonetheless, the March figures capped the strongest quarter in four years.

"The industry and consumers have been very resilient in the face of higher pump prices," Don Johnson, vice president of U.S. sales at General Motors Co., said on a call with analysts this month. "The steadily improving economy is playing a role and so is pent-up demand and an improved credit market."

Purchases excluding autos increased 0.8 percent, today's report showed. They were projected to rise 0.6 percent, the survey median showed.

The retail sales data, which aren't adjusted for prices, may have also reflected higher gasoline receipts at service stations. Filling-station sales increased 1.1 percent. Regular fuel in March averaged $3.84 a gallon, or 28 cents more than in February, according to AAA, the nation's biggest auto group.

Excluding autos, gasoline and building materials, which are the figures used to calculate gross domestic product, sales climbed 0.4 percent after a 0.5 percent increase in the previous month.

The economy expanded "at a modest to moderate pace" from mid-February through late March as manufacturing, hiring and retail sales showed signs of strength in the face of higher fuel prices, the Fed said in its Beige Book report on April 11. The central bank has pledged to keep its benchmark interest rate near zero until late 2014 to stimulate expansion.