There were $444.9 billion of retail and food services sales in May (after adjustment for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences but not for price changes), according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This level represented an increase of 1.2 percent from the previous month, and 2.7 percent from May of last year.
Core retail sales — excluding automobiles and parts — increased by 1 percent from the previous month and 1.3 percent from the previous year.
Retail trade sales increased by 1.4 percent from April, and 2 percent from May 2014. Gasoline sales declined by 3.7 percent for the month, and were 19 percent lower than a year ago. Both motor vehicles and parts dealers and sales from food services and drinking places rose by 8.2 percent on the year.
