Retail sales slid 0.9% between April and May, a slightly larger month-over-month decline than expected. But year-over-year sales were up enough they couldn’t just be brushed aside by things

The engine of this economy — consumers — slowed in May. Consumer spending is responsible for more than two-thirds of gross domestic product in the U.S.

Investors were closely watching monthly retail sales to see how consumers are responding to increased tariffs.