WASHINGTON - Retail sales increased 0.5% in April, slightly below economists’ estimates, as sales excluding autos and sales of gasoline increased by the smallest amount in four months, the Commerce Department reported Thursday.
Sales excluding autos increased 0.6% for the month while sales at gas stations rose 2.7%, following a 4.1% increase in March.
A core reading of retail sales, excluding autos, gasoline and building materials, rose 0.2%, the smallest gain since December.
Economists expected retail sales and sales excluding autos would each be up 0.6%, according to the median estimate from Thomson Reuters.
March retail sales were revised higher to a 0.9% increase from the 0.4% increase reported last month and sales excluding autos were revised to a 1.2% gain from a 0.8% rise.
April sales at general merchandise stores increased 0.1% and department store sales fell 0.2%.
Total retail sales for February were also revised higher to a 1.3% increase from the 1.1% growth reported earlier.
For the year ending in April, retail sales were up 7.9% through the same period in 2010, with gas station sales jumping 21.8%.
