My problem with a consumption tax is that the incentive for the seller is to not report sales, whereas with an income tax, the incentive for an employer is to report income.
Quite the other way around. Sellers are already used to taxes, a robust system already exists, and is far better off to report the sale as to leave it in inventory.
However, I am against a federal tax at all - If they want money, have em get it from the state, and let the state tax me.