WASHINGTON — Retail sales rose 0.1% to $408.0 billion in April after climbing a downwardly revised 0.7% in March, the Commerce Department said Tuesday.
The gain was less than the 0.2% rise projected by economists. March’s increase was originally reported as 0.8%.
On a year-over-year unadjusted basis, retail sales were up 6.5% for 2012.
Excluding autos, retail sales were up 0.1% in April after climbing an unrevised 0.8 % in March. Economists had projected a 0.2% increase for retail sales excluding autos.
