WASHINGTON — Consumers, battling soaring gasoline prices and a slumping economy, cut back further on their spending in April. The Commerce Department reported that retail sales dipped 0.2 percent last month, right in line with economists’ expectations. It was the second drop in the past three months and was led by a 2.8 percent decline in auto sales, the biggest setback in this category in 10 months. It reflected the problems that automakers are having as a weak economy and soaring gasoline prices cut into demand for new cars. For the full story visit http://www.latimes.com/business/nationworld/wire/ats-ap_business12may13,1,6836876.story
