
U.S. retail sales for April fell short of economists' expectations who expected sales to improve after the inclement weather during the first part of the year. Retails sales grew by a sluggish 0.1 percent over the previous month, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. Economists surveyed by the The Wall Street Journal had expected a healthier 0.4 percent growth. Excluding the volatile measure of auto and auto parts sales, the figures were pretty stagnant. The Commerce Department revised March's figure to reflect a 1.5 percent increase in sales as compared to 1.1 percent reported earlier. March's growth was the highest in four years and expectations were high that April would mark the beginning of a second quarter rebound after the first quarter was plagued with bad weather. Consumer spending accounts for two-thirds of the U.S. economic output. Spending on furniture and electronic stores fell sharply, while spending on groceries showed a little growth. Clothing sales were the one sector to show any significant growth, with a 1.2 percent increase in sales. Increases in hiring and rising payrolls suggested that consumer spending would pick up in the spring, giving the economy the much needed boost, after the government reported a below-par 0.1 percent growth in the GDP for the first quarter.
GMT 17:19 2018 Thursday ,11 January
China factory gate inflation slows to 13-month lowGMT 17:50 2018 Wednesday ,10 January
German industrial output rebounds in NovemberGMT 17:39 2018 Wednesday ,10 January
Samsung tips record Q4 operating profit of more than $14 bnGMT 17:29 2018 Tuesday ,09 January
German industrial orders dip in NovemberGMT 15:36 2018 Thursday ,04 January
China factory activity accelerated in December: CaixinGMT 13:33 2018 Wednesday ,03 January
Turkey inflation rate eases but still stubbornly high in DecemberGMT 16:27 2018 Monday ,01 January
China manufacturing activity slows in DecemberGMT 17:36 2017 Sunday ,31 December
Spain to leave EU's deficit 'sin bin' next year: Rajoy
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor