MARCH BUYING CHEERS RETAILERS.(BUSINESS)

Byline: JEANNINE AVERSA Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- Consumers snapped out of a funk in March and splurged on cars, garden supplies and furniture. The biggest increase in retail sales in 17 months occurred even as energy prices soared.

After a string of mostly dismal economic reports, analysts were encouraged by Friday's sales figures and another report showing that consumers' confidence improved in April. Still, they weren't ready to declare the economy's trouble days over.

Profit-pressed businesses and battered manufacturers remain reluctant to make big investments in capital projects or in hiring, major forces holding back the economic recovery. Turning that situation …