American consumers defied expectations with retail sales growth in June, as shoppers adopt a ‘wait-and-see’ attitude toward economic uncertainty and looming tariffs.

Signs of economic improvement also include steady job growth and a dip in first-time applications for unemployment benefits.

Retail sales rose 0.6% in June from May, the Commerce Department said Thursday. That was better than the 0.2% increase economists polled by The Wall Street Journal expected. The pickup comes after retail sales [fell 0.