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US Retail Sales Growth Slows in April as Fuel Costs Surge

U.S. retail sales expanded at a measured pace in April, with total retail purchases increasing 0.5% for the month. This represents a significant deceleration from March's revised 1.6% gain. When excluding fuel station sales, the underlying growth picture weakened further, with core retail advancing just 0.3%. The moderation underscores the strain that surging energy costs are placing on consumer spending patterns. The data suggests shoppers are maintaining purchasing activity across other categories, though petroleum-driven inflation continues to pressure household budgets. Economists view the figures as evidence of underlying consumer resilience, even as rising gasoline prices and broader inflationary pressures complicate the economic outlook.