Ford was the last major auto maker to report February sales.

Retailers reported unexpectedly strong February sales, but analysts were divided on the significance of the results.

February sales were originally estimated to have gained 16.2 percent, the first advance since a 3.2 percent gain last November.

The company's higher February sales came with inventories at only 60 percent of 1998 levels for its critical pickup trucks and without huge customer incentives.

Nearly every auto maker reported higher February sales, many of them posting records for the month.

Sears's February sales dropped 3.6 percent, to $2.12 billion, from $2.19 billion a year earlier.

Next week the market will also get a look at February retail sales.

That would put February sales in second place after September 1986, when the rate was 21.2 million vehicles.

Lowe's, the home-improvement chain, jumped 3, to 35, after the company said February sales in stores open more than a year rose 9 percent.

Allied said February sales rose to $156.6 million from $126.5 million in January.