US EditionRetail Sales Slow in April After March Pre-Tariffs Spending Splurge
- The U.S. Census Bureau reported retail sales rose 0.1% in April 2025 to a record $724.1 billion, following a 1.7% surge in March.
- This modest increase followed heightened consumer purchases in March ahead of tariffs on imported goods implemented in early April.
- Although concerns over rising tariffs have dampened sentiment, consumer spending in April remained strong due to steady job growth and declining energy costs.
- Jack Kleinhenz, Chief Economist at the National Retail Federation, noted that although rising tariffs have generated significant concern, consumer purchasing activity has remained steady.
- Retail sales growth has moderated to a steady pace, suggesting resilience amid tariff concerns and inflation, with year-over-year sales up 5.2%.
11 Articles
11 Articles
NRF: Consumer spending remains resilient as tariff worries persist
WASHINGTON – Despite growing concerns about tariffs on imported goods, American consumers continued to spend steadily in April, according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau. The National Retail Federation’s Chief Economist, Jack Kleinhenz, emphasized that the economy remains resilient, supported by strong employment numbers, rising wages, and lower energy costs.“Consumers are still spending despite widespread pessimism fueled by rising t…
Beyond the Squiggles in Retail Sales
Our Drunken Sailors may be in a crappy mood, but that doesn’t stop them. By Wolf Richter for WOLF STREET. The big thing – from a data-geek point of view – in today’s retail sales report by the Census Bureau was that the entire data series was rejiggered for several factors, including two massive changes going back to Adam and Eve, well, back to the beginning of the data series in 1992: The shift to the 2017 North American Industry Classificatio…
NRF: Census Data Shows Steady Retail Sales In April As Tariff Concerns Continued
WASHINGTON, D.C. — May 15, 2025 — Data released today by the U.S. Census Bureau shows shoppers remained engaged in April amid continued concern over tariffs on imported merchandise, National Retail Federation Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said. “Consumers are still spending despite widespread pessimism fueled by rising tariffs,” Kleinhenz said. “While tariffs may have weighed on spending decisions, growth is coming at a moderate pace and consum…
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