American consumers pulled back their spending to start 2026, extending the malaise in retail sales that began late last year. Retail sales fell 0.2% in January, following a flat reading in December, according to the Commerce Department’s report issued on Friday. January’s figure came in below the forecasts of economists, who were expecting another flat reading, The report was delayed because of the 43-day government shutdown. However, the January figure was weighed down by a sales decline at