Soaring gasoline prices and a weakening economy took a bite out of consumer spending April — notably a 2.8 percent decline in new-vehicle sales — but local dealers offering fuel-efficient vehicles bucked the trend.

The Commerce Department reported Tuesday that retail sales dipped 0.2 percent last month, right in line with economists’ expectations. It was the second drop in the past three months and was led by a 2.8 percent decline in auto sales, the biggest setback in this category in 10 months. It reflected the problems that automakers are having as a weak economy and soaring gasoline prices cut into demand for new cars.

Not at some area dealers, who Monday reported an 18.5 percent gain in new-vehicle sales for the month from a year ago to 2,683. Jim Pace Pontiac in Weathersfield said he saw new-car sales more than double to 50 in April from 24 last year. The dealership’s next-door Saturn of Route 422 dealership posted a 34.4 percent gain to 86 new vehicles.