by Tanta on 5/11/2007 10:28:00 AM

Via Marketwatch:

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- U.S. retail sales fell a weaker-than-expected 0.2% in April, the Commerce Department estimated Friday.

This marked the biggest decline in retail sales since last September. Excluding automobiles, retail sales were flat. . . .

Economists had been expecting a soft report, but not one this weak. The average forecast in a MarketWatch survey called for a 0.3% rise in retail sales in April. Excluding autos, sales were expected to rise 0.5%.

The report would have been weaker except for the high price of gasoline. Excluding gas, retail sales were down 0.4%. Excluding both autos and gas, retail sales were down 0.2%.

So many condos, so few flat-screen TVs . . .