WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� U.S. shoppers stepped up their spending just a bit in February after , signaling that Americans are shopping more cautiously as mount.
Retail sales rose just 0.2% in February, a small rebound after a sharp drop of 1.2% in January, the Commerce Department said Monday. Sales rose at grocery stores, home and garden stores, and online retailers. Sales fell at auto dealers, restaurants, and electronics stores.
The small increase suggests Americans may be growing more wary about spending as the stock market has plunged and President Donald Trump's tariff threats and government spending cuts have led to among consumers and businesses.
Some economists were relieved the numbers weren鈥檛 worse. Still, many expect consumer spending will grow just 1% to 1.5% at an annual rate in the first three months of this year, far below the 4.2% gain in the final quarter last year.
鈥淐onsumer spending is on track to slow sharply this quarter, but not by as much as we previously feared,鈥� Stephen Brown, an economist at Capital Economics, a consulting firm, said in an email.
On Friday, a measure of fell sharply for the third straight month and is now down more than 20% since December. Respondents to the University of Michigan's survey cited policy uncertainty as a leading reason for the gloomier outlook. While the respondents were divided sharply by party 鈥� sentiment about the current economy fell among Republican by much less than for Democrats 鈥� Republicans' confidence in the economy's future dropped 10%.
Consumers from all income levels are feeling more strained.
Hunter Simmons of Austin, Texas, who is a lawyer and journalist, said that the uncertainty around the economy because of the stock market turmoil and tariffs has made him more cautious about spending. He said he used to buy the more expensive farm fresh eggs, but now he鈥檚 going for the cheapest eggs he can find. He鈥檚 also been buying fewer fresh vegetables and fruits and has turned to frozen versions. And lately Simmons started to pay for gas in cash and is joining fuel rewards programs.
鈥淚 am not a big spender in general, but I have been cutting back in small ways,鈥� he said.
A slew of earnings reports over the past few weeks from major retailers including , and Dollar General have cited a slowdown in spending.
Walmart, the nation鈥檚 largest retailer and a bellwether for the retail sector, released a weak outlook citing uncertainty around tariffs.
February sales also fell last month at gas stations, clothing stores, and sporting goods stores. The figures aren't adjusted for prices, and the cost of gas also declined in February, which likely accounts for most of the drop. Excluding gas and autos, retail sales rose 0.5%, a healthier figure but still modest after a plunge of 0.8% in January.
Also Monday, the National Association of Homebuilders said its index measuring builder sentiment fell three points to 39, the lowest level in seven months, as economic uncertainty dimmed builders' outlook and fewer potential buyers visited homes.
鈥淓conomic uncertainty, the threat of tariffs and elevated construction costs pushed builder sentiment down in March,鈥� the group said. The homebuilders estimate tariffs will add $9,200 to the .
惭补肠测鈥檚 says its customers, even at its upscale chains Bluemercury and Bloomingdale鈥檚, are feeling angst and its financial outlook this month reflects that.
鈥淚 think the affluent customer that鈥檚 shopping 惭补肠测鈥檚 is just as uncertain and as confused and concerned by what鈥檚 transpiring,鈥� 惭补肠测鈥檚 CEO Tony Spring said at the time.
and there are no signs that companies are laying off workers. As long as Americans have jobs, spending could remain resilient. But that is not assured.
Dollar General CEO Todd Vasos said Thursday that the overall economic picture for his customers is not ideal and the company said it would close around 100 stores.
鈥淥ur customers continue to report that their financial situation has worsened over the last year as they have been negatively impacted by ongoing inflation 鈥� Vasos said during an earnings call. 鈥淢any of our customers report that they only have enough money for basic essentials, with some noting that they have had to sacrifice even on the necessities.鈥�
Spending patterns at Costco have changed to accommodate a soured view of the economy, including a shift toward ground beef and poultry instead of more expensive cuts of meat, said to Gary Millership, the company鈥檚 chief financial officer.
American Eagle Outfitters CEO Jay Schottenstein said angst is particularly high among younger customers.
鈥淣ot just tariffs, not just inflation," said Schottenstein. "We see the government cutting people off. They don鈥檛 know how that鈥檚 going to affect them. And when people don鈥檛 know what they don鈥檛 know 鈥� they get very conservative.鈥�
The retail sales report mostly just covers goods purchases 鈥� as well as restaurant sales 鈥� but there are signs Americans are cutting back spending on services as well.
Airline executives at JP Morgan's airline industry conference last week said bookings have fallen.
鈥淭here was something going on with economic sentiment, something going on with consumer confidence," said Delta CEO Ed Bastian at the industry conference.
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D'Innocenzio reported from New York.
Christopher Rugaber And Anne D'innocenzio, The Associated Press
