U.S. Economy: Retail Sales Cool, Consumer Sentiment Falls

Retail sales rose in April at the slowest pace in nine months and consumer sentiment declined last week, highlighting the risks that rising gasoline prices pose for the U.S. economy.

Purchases increased 0.5 percent, the smallest gain since July, after a 0.9 percent March advance that was more than double the previous estimate, Commerce Department figures showed today in Washington. The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index dropped to minus 46.9 in the period to May 8, the lowest reading since March.