Analysts estimate that year-to-year gains were in a range of 10 percent to 12 percent.

It said February's year-to-year gain was the largest since November 1981, when consumer prices rose 3.8 percent.

"The biggest year-to-year gain is from the improvements in terms of material costs," Mr. Losh said.

All of the reporting retail companies had year-to-year gains in both the city and the region.

That was the biggest year-to-year gain since 1984, the Commerce Department said.

Analysts noted that auto makers reported dismal sales for the late November period last year, making a year-to-year gain easily attainable.

Still, industry executives seized upon the year-to-year gains.

Overall sales of sport-utility vehicles have been strong this year, showing a 24 percent year-to-year gain last month.

That gain was similar to year-to-year gains recorded by retailers as a group during May and June for stores open at least a year.

The rise was the 16th straight year-to-year gain.