NEW YORK — Shoppers pulled back the pace of their spending in December from November, closing out the holiday shopping season and the year on a lackluster tone.
The report, issued by the Commerce Department on Tuesday, raised questions about shoppers’ ability to spend this year as they worry about a slowing job market and uncertainty around President Donald Trump’s tariffs and their impact on prices.
Retail sales were flat in December from November, when business was up 0.6%, according to the Commerce Department. Economists were expecting a 0.4% increase for December.
The report delayed more than a month because of the 43-day government shutdown.
Sales in October fell 0.1%, rose 0.1% in September, but jumped 0.6% in July and August and 1% in June, according to the Commerce Department.
The retail sales figures, which are not adjusted for inflation, showed that many types of businesses including furniture and home furnishings stores as well as electronics and appliance retailers posted declines.
Among the few bright spots: building materials and garden stores, which had a small sales increase.
The snapshot offers only a partial look at consumer spending and doesn’t include many services, including travel and hotel lodges. But the lone services category – restaurants – registered a dip of 0.1%.
Economists will be closely monitoring a slew of economic reports on jobs and prices due out later this week.
But the economy is in a confusing place.
Growth is robust: Gross domestic product — the nation’s output of goods and services — advanced from July through September at the fastest pace in two years. But the jo