WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. consumer spending increased marginally in April as a rush to beat higher prices from import duties slowed.

Consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of economic activity, rose 0.2% last month after an unrevised 0.7% jump in March, the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis said on Friday. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast consumer spending climbing 0.2%.

Pre-emptive buying of goods ahead of President Donald Trump’s sweeping import tariffs helped to push spending higher in the prior month. Most of the tariffs have been implemented though higher duties on goods have been delayed until July.

Duties on Chinese imports have been slashed to 30% from 145% until mid-August. Economists have argued that Trump’s aggressive trade policy

See Full Page