Retail sales rebounded 0.4 percent in April, with online sales up 1.4 percent

Americans stepped up their spending at auto dealers, hardware stores and e-commerce outlets as retail sales rebounded from two sluggish months, with retail sales rising 0.4 percent in April.  Sales had ticked up just 0.1 percent in March and fell in February.

The rise also indicates that the struggles of large retail chains, such as Macy's and JC Penney's, reflect changes in consumer buying patterns rather than broader economic weakness. Sales at department stores fell 0.2 percent. Yet a category that includes online retailers reported sales growth of 1.4 percent, the strongest of any group.