U.S. consumers spent slightly more at retail stores last month after ramping up their shopping in March to get ahead of tariffs, the Associated Press reports.
Sales at retail stores and restaurants rose just 0.1% in April from March, the Commerce Department said Thursday. That’s much lower than the previous month’s 1.7% gain, which reflected a surge in car sales as consumers sought to get ahead of President Trump’s 25% duty on auto imports that went into effect this month.
In April, sales were flat or down for many retailers: They plunged 2.5% at sporting goods stores, which saw prices jump last month, according to the government’s inflation report earlier this week. Sales dropped 0.4% at clothing stores, while they ticked down 0.2% at health and personal care stores and slipped 0.1% at auto dealers. Gas station sales dropped 0.5%, even as prices declined 0.1%. The figures aren’t adjusted for price changes.
Retailers still face a lot of uncertainty around tariffs and how shoppers will react to higher prices after several years of sharply rising costs.
