Retail sales in April plummet a record 16.4 percent

An empty restaurant serving only takeout in Washington, DC, on March 18, 2020
(Image credit: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images)

Retail sales in April amid the coronavirus pandemic took a massive, record dive.

A report released by the Commerce Department on Friday showed retail sales plummeted 16.4 percent in April, more than the 12.3 percent decline economists were expecting and significantly worse than March's 8.3 percent drop, according to CNBC.

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Brendan Morrow

Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.