JWN Nordstrom Inc

WASHINGTON—Sales at U.S. retailers and restaurants grew at the fastest pace in more than a year last month, a sign consumers stepped up spending after a slow start to 2016.

Retail sales advanced 1.3% in April from the prior month to a seasonally adjusted $453.44 billion, the Commerce Department said Friday. It was the best monthly gain since March 2015.

Economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal had expected April sales would be increase 0.8% from the prior month.

The sales surge was led by three categories: autos, gasoline stations and nonstore retailers--a segment that includes online shopping at sites such as Amazon.

Compared with a year earlier, overall sales grew 3%. That's well above the annual rate of inflation, which has been running at about 1% this year, as measured by the consumer-price index.

Retail sales for March were revised to a 0.3% decline. Annual revisions published late last month had revised the figure to a 0.4% decline from the initially reported 0.3% drop.

Sales rose 0.3% in February and fell 0.5% in January.

After ending 2015 on a modest uptick, retail sales flattened during the first three months of the year. That matched with a slowdown in overall consumer spending, including services not captured in the retail report, and a deceleration in economic growth during the first quarter.

Retailers including Macy's Inc., Kohl's Corp. and Nordstrom Inc. all reported weaker first-quarter sales this week at stores open for more than a year.

April's improvement in overall retail spending was at least partially an expected bounce back from several weaker months. But the gain also raises optimism that consumers can power better growth this year. Consumer spending is responsible for about two-thirds of economic output.

Last month, retail sales excluding motor vehicles, rose 0.8% from the prior month. That was the best gain since May 2015. Excluding gasoline, sales were up 1.2%. Excluding both categories, sales advanced 0.6% last month.

Spending at nonstore retailers increased 2.1% in April, the best gain since June 2014. The online shopping and catalog category was up 10.2% from a year earlier, the best annual gain of any segment tracked by the government.

Purchases of motor vehicles and parts rose 3.2% in March, consistent with steady gains in recent years.

Friday's report showed that Americans spent 2.2% more last month at gasoline stations. As is typical in the spring, gasoline prices rose during April, but remained below year-earlier levels. American households have benefited from relatively cheaper gasoline and an improving labor market for more than a year.

Most other retail categories posted more modest gains in April. Spending at restaurants and bars rose 0.3%. Clothing stores sales rose 1% in April. Department store spending rose 0.3%, but the category was down from a year earlier.

Spending at building and garden supply stores fell 1% last month.

The retail-sales data are adjusted for seasonal variations but not for price changes. The report doesn't include estimates for most services, which make up the bulk of consumer spending.

Write to Eric Morath at eric.morath@wsj.com and Ben Leubsdorf at ben.leubsdorf@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

May 13, 2016 08:55 ET (12:55 GMT)

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