All eyes on consumers as experts look for answers.

For those following consumer spending, the teetering numbers this spring has made it difficult for economists to know whether retail is on the mend or if the bad will turn to worse.

As retailers brace for April numbers, the enigma of consumer spending continues.

After an abysmal fall of consumer spending, spurred by the economic volatility endured in September of 2008, holiday sales proved just as disappointing, with most stores reporting no up-tick in spending. The 4.3% drop in consumer spending during the fourth quarter of 2008 marked the largest quarterly decline in nearly three decades.

But in today's economy, hope comes in small packages and after January saw a 1% increase in consumer spending, many wondered whether 2009 would prove better than retailers anticipated.

That 1% increase was followed by a modest .2% jump in spending during the month of February. Prior to January and February, consumer spending had fallen six straight months beginning last July. And to retailers' disappointment that momentum faced another setback in March, when the U.S. Commerce Department reported a 1.1% drop in consumer spending. For the month of March, many economists had predicted to see a .3% spending increase.

While budget retailers and wholesalers continue to weather the economic storm, automakers, furniture stores and apparel retailers posted sales dips in March.

Three factors experts believe may have attributed to the disappointing month are the fact that a late Easter failed to stimulate spending in March, the fact that incomes are declining (they fell. 1% in February, according to the Commerce Department), and the fact that consumers are saving more than they have in recent history.

Personal savings rates were reportedly 4.4% in January and 4.2% in February. Despite the slight decline between the two months, it marked the first time the savings rate hovered above 4% in consecutive months in more than a decade.

Since economists say consumer spending fuels 70% of the U.S. economy, the more Americans save--some tear--the longer it will take for the country to pull out of this recession.

However, Faith Hope Consolo, chairman of retail sales and leasing at Prudential Douglas Elliman said the industry needs to take a big breath and exercise some patience.

"Retailers, and those of us who work with them, need to be patient. The fact that consumers are increasing their savings means a more solid basis for doing business well into the future. In the recent past, customers were living and spending unrealistically on dreams of ever-rising housing values and cheap debt. They are now taking care of their fiscal health, and are slowly returning to the stores.

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"Their spending in the future will be more measured, and most important, they will be able to pay their bills. They and we will get off the boom/bust rollercoaster, and retailers can plan their growth more effectively."

While consumer spending has been a game of chutes and ladders for much of the year, optimists are clinging to the hope that the late Easter has boosted April sales enough to see an improvement over a dismal March.