US retail sales unexpectedly dropped 0.1 per cent in April from the previous month, government figures showed today.
The decline, which followed a 2.3 per cent increase in sales in March, defied most Wall Street economists' expectations of a modest increase in April sales.
If cars are excluded, sales tumbled 0.9 per cent, the Department of Commerce said.
Clothing sales fell 3.2 per cent, the sharpest fall since September 2001 and gasoline sales slumped 5.9 per cent, the largest drop since October 2001, it said.
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hen compared to April last year, retail sales were up 4.1 per cent.
AFP