Retail sales rose 0.5% in April, a slowdown from the revised growth level of 1.6% in March, according to Commerce Department data released Thursday. March marked the largest one-month increase in retail spending in more than three years, largely because gas prices spiked higher rapidly.

Higher inflation has persisted as rising prices pressure consumers.

U.S. consumer prices climbed a sharply again last month as the 10-week war with Iran pushed energy prices higher.