SYDNEY  –Australian retail sales were flat in April as consumers, who face high living costs and rising interest rates, cut back spending on food and dining out, bolstering the case for a pause in rate hikes next month. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on Friday showed retail sales were unchanged in April from March, when they rose 0.4 percent. Analysts had looked for 0.2 percent growth. Sales of A$35.26 billion ($23.92 billion) were up … Continue reading Australia retail sales flat in April as consumers cut back on food, dining out