Americans Turn Cautious and Retail Sales Slide After a ...
- The Commerce Department reported that retail sales at stores and restaurants fell 0.9 percent in May 2025, with car sales plunging 3.5 percent nationwide.
- This decline followed a surge in March as Americans accelerated car purchases to avoid President Trump's 25 percent tariff on imported vehicles and parts.
- Sales excluding autos fell 0.3 percent in May, while a category excluding volatile sectors like gas, cars, and restaurants rose 0.4 percent last month, signaling mixed consumer behavior.
- Ellen Zentner, Morgan Stanley's chief economic strategist, noted that while consumers are starting to reduce their spending, they have not yet made any abrupt cutbacks, indicating a cautious yet ongoing expenditure pattern.
- Economists anticipate an increase in overall consumer expenditures during the April to June period, driven by low unemployment and continued strength in certain discretionary segments despite the impact of tariff-related price hikes.
Insights by Ground AI
Does this summary seem wrong?
19 Articles
19 Articles
All
Left
2
Center
11
Right
4
Americans retail sales slide after a spring surge to beat tariffs
WASHINGTON — Retail sales fell sharply in May as consumers pulled back from a spending surge early this year. The rush was to get ahead of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs on nearly all imports. Sales at retail stores and restaurants dropped 0.9 percent in May, the Commerce Department said Tuesday. That was after a
·Manila, Philippines
Read Full Article

Retail sales slide in US
WASHINGTON — Retail sales fell sharply in May as consumers pulled back from a spending surge early this year to get ahead of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs on almost all imports.
·Billings, United States
Read Full ArticleCoverage Details
Total News Sources19
Leaning Left2Leaning Right4Center11Last UpdatedBias Distribution65% Center
Bias Distribution
- 65% of the sources are Center
65% Center
12%
C 65%
R 24%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium