Retailers report modest gains for April NEW YORK Shoppers, encouraged by signs of an improving economy, picked up their spending in April from March despite cold weather that stopped them from buying spring clothes. According to a preliminary tally of 11 retailers by the International Council of Shopping Centers, released Thursday, revenue at stores open at least a year rose 3.4 percent in April from last year. That's up from a 2.2 percent gain in March but still shows modest growth. For the March-April period, the measure rose 2 percent. Only a sliver of the nation's retailers now report monthly figures, but the data offers a snapshot of consumer spending.