text:  Americans kept spending in March even amid higher prices for things like food, gasoline, and other basics, not to mention being worsened by Russia's escalating war with Ukraine, putting even more upward pressure on prices. Retail sales increased by 0.5 percent. General merchandise stores saw business up by 5.4, and restaurant sales were up by 1 percent. On Wall Street right now, the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 15 points. This is SRN News.