The U.S. Commerce Department reported a 0.5% increase in retail and food services sales for April 2026. This growth aligned with market expectations. The figure represents a slowdown from the downwardly revised 1.6% surge in March. Sales increased 4.9% on a year-over-year basis.
Gasoline station sales rose 2.8% as fuel prices climbed. Non-store retailers recorded a 1.1% increase in monthly sales. Furniture store sales fell 2.0%. Clothing store sales declined 1.5%. Spending at restaurants and bars grew 0.6%.
The control group of sales, which excludes autos and gasoline, rose 0.5% in April. This metric serves as a proxy for the consumer spending component of GDP. The data indicates underlying strength in consumer demand for the second quarter. Spending patterns show consumers are prioritizing essential budgets amid rising energy costs.