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February 14, 2007 10:30 AM, EST

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U.S. retail sales were unchanged in January following a 1.2% gain in December, the Commerce Department said Wednesday. Economists had forecast January’s sales to rise 0.3%, Bloomberg reported.The static reading was due in part to cheaper gasoline, which limited service-station receipts, and auto dealerships selling fewer cars, Bloomberg reported.Sales excluding automobilese 0.3%, following a 1.3% gain in December.Department store sales rose 1.4% as consumers cashed in holiday gift cards, Bloomberg said.Almost all trucking operations depend on the health of retail sales because such sales involve nearly every type of cargo.