Retail Sales Rise Slightly, Lifting Hope for Rebound

After dropping in March, retail sales unexpectedly eked out a 0.1 percent gain in April, pointing to underlying strength in the economy and leading forecasters to raise estimates of second-quarter growth. The gain in retail sales, which account for about 30 percent of consumer spending, was the latest sign of resilience in an economy that has been hit by belt-tightening in Washington as the government tries to cut the budget deficit.