US retail spending slows in April US shoppers cooled their spending in April as they faced a softer economy and seasonal challenges, according to monthly sales figures from some of the country's largest retail chains. Total sales at stores open for at least a year rose just 0.8 per cent last month, according to Retail Metrics, a research group. That was below the expected 1.5 per cent forecast increase and compared with an 8.7 per cent surge in April last year. Last month retailers faced headwinds, including an earlier Easter and unseasonably warm weather in February and March, which brought sales forward, as well as a weaker economic environment, highlighted by a rise in unemployment insurance claims and slow private sector job growth. "All of this was just too much to overcome for retailers as softness was evenly distributed across the retail landscape," said Ken Perkins, president of Retail Metrics. Some analysts had hoped the momentum from March's 3.9 per cent sales rise would carry over into April. "April put March into perspective," said Barbara Kahn, a marketing professor at the Pennsylvania university's Wharton School. People bought their spring clothes, but they bought them in March instead of in April. It was just regular, slow, solid progression. Same-store sales at the discounter Target rose 1.1 per cent, less than half the 2.9 per cent expected. Costco, the membership warehouse club, reported a 4 per cent gain compared with an estimated 5.4 per cent rise. Target "received an early season boost from the combination of warm weather and an earlier Easter," said Gregg Steinhafel, chief executive of the chain. Sales were weaker than forecast at middle-market chains, including Macy's, the department store, where sales rose 1.2 per cent, below the 1.9 per cent forecast. The company said it had expected April's figures to fall from March - when they rose 7.3 per cent - because of the combination of an early Easter and late Mothering Sunday. At Saks, the high-end department store, sales were up just 2 per cent compared with estimates of 5.6 per cent. Among the few department stores to report a gain was Nordstrom, where sales rose 7.1 per cent, above forecasts. The apparel retailer Gap reported a steeper than forecast 2 per cent drop as lower sales at its Old Navy stores offset increases at Gap and Banana Republic. But other clothing chains reported strong gains. American Eagle Outfitters, the teen-focused retailer, on Wednesday raised its first-quarter earnings outlook after comparable sales in the first three months of the year jumped 17 per cent. "We experienced broad-based strength in our spring merchandise selling, which enabled us to pull back on full-scale promotional plans," said Robert Hanson, chief executive. Limited Brands, which owns Victoria's Secret and Henri Bendel, also boosted its profit guidance after it reported April sales climbed 6 per cent compared with an expected 3.9 per cent. TJX, the brand-name discounter, said its sales rose 7 per cent, twice the forecast gain.