 Stronger than expected retail sales last month. Here's NPR's Scott Horsley. Forecasters expected cautious consumers would rein in their spending last month. Instead, retail sales held steady in June. Retail spending for May was also revised up. Spending at gas stations was down last month thanks to falling gasoline prices. That left people with more money to spend at restaurants, home and garden centers, and furniture stores. Internet sales rose nearly 2% in June, and they could get a boost in July as well.