Retail sales released today by the U.S. Commerce Department show total retail sales  increased 0.3 percent seasonally adjusted over January and 4.1 percent unadjusted year-over-year.

“February could be the direct result of cabin fever with consumers eager to get some fresh air and enjoy a day of shopping,” says Rosalind Wells, Chief Economist for NRF. “We expect sales increases to continue but high unemployment and other economic factors will restrain consumers’ ability to splurge on discretionary items.”

For more on the bump, visit the NRF’s website.

“These numbers show that retailers continue to anticipate improvements in the U.S. economy,” NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said. “This is very different from the past two years when merchants were continually cutting their imports in an effort to manage inventory.”

Hackett Associates founder Ben Hackett said the U.S. economy appears to be in true recovery rather than the mid-point upswing of a double-dip recession, and said the growth rates “appear to be healthy.”

Keep your fingers crossed… except to use that debit card.