NEW YORK — Americans’ spending — much like the economy — continues to yo-yo.

Major retailers such as Costco and Macy’s reported Thursday that April revenue rose less that 1 percent in the worst performance since 2009 when the U.S. economy was just coming out of a bad recession.

The disappointing results follow two consecutive months of strong sales boosted by positive economic news about the job and housing markets.

“The economy is growing in fits and starts, and we are seeing sales shoot up and down,” said Michael Niemira, chief economist at International Council of Shopping Centers. “We’re in a choppy period.”

A small group of merchants representing roughly 13 percent of the $2.4 trillion U.S. retail industry report monthly revenue at stores open at least a year, a key measure since it excludes results from locations that open and close during the year. Still, the figures offer a snapshot of consumer spending, which accounts for more than 70 percent of economic activity. And recently, it’s shown that Americans’ spending sways with the wave of economic news.

An average of April’s results for 22 retailers nationwide rose 0.6 percent — the worst since November 2009 when the tally was down 0.2 percent, according to The International Council of Shopping Centers. The recession officially ended in June 2009. That’s in stark contrast to February and March when the group posted an average 4.1 percent sales gain on signs the economy was improving.

Government reports on jobs and housing in recent weeks have renewed concerns that the economic recovery is facing a spring slowdown for the third straight year.