In April, US retail sales exhibited a modest rise of 0.1%, falling short of expectations and signaling a significant pullback in consumer spending. Following an earlier spending surge as Americans rushed to purchase goods before higher tariffs took effect, the data indicates that the momentum has slowed as fears of rising prices and product shortages began to take hold. Despite these challenges, some analysts suggest the impact of tariffs has been modest so far. Nonetheless, consumers are becoming increasingly cautious, leading to concerns about a sluggish economy ahead.