US Retail Sales Slip More Than Expected After Rush To Beat Tariffs

In May, US retail sales fell 0.9 percent from the prior month, more than analysts expected according to government data (Credit: AFP)

US retail sales declined more than expected in May, government data showed Tuesday, dragged by a slowdown in auto sales as consumers pulled back after hurrying to get ahead of President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs.

As Trump's levies flow through the country, analysts are keeping a close watch on how consumers -- a critical driver of the world's biggest economy -- respond to resulting uncertainty and any price increases down the line.