NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Retail sales fell for the first time since February as rising gasoline prices took a toll on consumer spending in June.

The Census Bureau said Friday that sales overall fell a surprising 0.1 percent last month following a 0.1 percent increase in May. Economists surveyed by Briefing.com had forecast retail sales to gain 0.4 percent.

"The weakness in June should be considered an indication of weakness in household spending which must be viewed seriously as a signal of where earnings and credit quality will trend in the second half," said Richard Hastings, economic advisor at the Federation of Credit and Financial Professionals.

Excluding auto sales, retail sales rose 0.3 percent, in line with expectations. Ex-auto sales were up a revised 0.7 percent the previous month. Ex-auto sales were originally reported to have increased 0.5 percent in April.

According to the report, retail gasoline sales rose 1.1 percent, after a run-up in prices at the pump.

Furniture and home stores sales rose 1.3 percent and were up 9.3 percent from a year ago, while sales at building materials and garden equipment stores were down 1 percent.

"We certainly are not surprised at the weak building materials number because of the decline on job growth in residential construction," Hastings said.

Consumer spending accounts for about two-thirds of economic activity and analysts worry that higher energy prices, which act as a tax on household budgets, could crimp spending.

Weakening underlying retail sales might also persuade the Federal Reserve that growth was slowing enough to keep inflationary pressures in check as it considers halting a two year campaign of raising interest rates.

-- Reuters contributed to this report.

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Related: Retail sales still chilly in June.