Retail sales was weaker than expected in May. Sales rose just 0.1% sequentially, one-tenth of a percentage point below the Dow Jones estimate. However, the result was slightly better than the downwardly revised 0.2% decline in April. This unexpected stagnation in consumer spending indicates a possible shift in consumer behavior amidst persistent inflation and higher interest rates. On a year-over-year basis, sales rose 2.3%. The sales number was worse when excluding autos, with a fall of 0.1% against the es ...