NEW YORK (AP) – Americans’ spending – much like the economy – continues to yo-yo.
Major retailers such as Costco and Macy’s reported on Thursday that April revenue rose less that 1 percent in the worst performance since 2009 when the U.S. economy was just coming out of a bad recession.
The disappointing results follow two consecutive months of strong sales that were boosted by positive economic news about the job and housing markets.
“The economy is growing in fits and starts, and we are seeing sales shoot up and down,” said Michael P. Niemira, chief economist at International Council of Shopping Centers. “We’re in a choppy period.”
A small group of merchants representing roughly 13 percent of the $2.4 trillion U.S. retail industry report monthly revenue at stores open at least a year, a key measure since it excludes results from locations that open and close during the year. Still, the figures offer a snapshot of consumer spending, which accounts for more than 70 percent of economic activity. And recently, it’s shown that Americans’ spending sways with the wave of economic news.
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