US retail sales rise 0.9% in May as consumers shrug off $4.48 gas prices

US retail sales rose 0.9% in May, demonstrating economic resilience as consumers continued spending despite gas prices reaching $4.48. However, high fuel costs are absorbing more retail-sales dollars, leading to a decrease in restaurant spending. This shift indicates economic stress linked to the conflict with Iran, forcing consumers to prioritize essential needs over discretionary wants, which complicates policy decisions while supply-driven inflation persists across the broader American economy during this period.