Kristen Schwab

I'm Kristen Schwab for Marketplace.

0.6% might not sound like a lot, but Lauren Seidel Baker at ITR Economics says an increase is fairly good news.

That trajectory is looking relatively good, says the National Retail Federation's Mark Matthews.

He says the sales data and projected Easter spending show that consumers continue to be the shining star of the economy.

For now, Miller says the companies he's working with are continuing to focus on pricing and promotions and convincing consumers it's still worth spending with them.

I'm Carla Javier from Marketplace.

One funny thing about this data on import prices, says Oren Klatschken, an economist at Nationwide, is it shows the price of goods before businesses pay tariffs.

One funny thing about this data on import prices, says Oren Klatschken, an economist at Nationwide, is it shows the price of goods before businesses pay tariffs.

Businesses front-loaded inventory and shifted supply chains to avoid the highest taxes.

Businesses front-loaded inventory and shifted supply chains to avoid the highest taxes.

And because of the uncertainty tariffs caused, the value of the dollar has fallen.

And because of the uncertainty tariffs caused, the value of the dollar has fallen.

These are all things that make imports more expensive.

These are all things that make imports more expensive.

Then there's a seasonal quirk.

Then there's a seasonal quirk.

We just had a really cold winter.

We just had a really cold winter.

Laura Veldkamp is an economist at Columbia University.

Laura Veldkamp is an economist at Columbia University.