There were $473.8 billion in retail and food service sales in May, down 0.3% from the previous month and up 3.8% from May 2016, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Core retail sales – excluding automobiles and parts – also fell 0.3%. Year-over-year core sales increased 3.8%.
Retail trade sales decreased 0.3% from April and are up 4.0% from last year. Sales at nonstore retailers increased 0.8% from April, while increasing 10.2% year-over-year.
Sales at gasoline stations decreased 2.4% during the month, but are up 6.2% from a year ago.
Read the Census release.
