There were $502.0 billion in retail and food service sales in May, up 0.8 percent from the previous month and 5.9 percent from May 2017, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. April’s number was upwardly revised to reflect a 0.4 percent increase.
Core retail sales – excluding automobiles and parts – rose 0.9 percent. Year-over-year core sales increased 6.4 percent.
Retail trade sales increased 0.8 percent from April and 6.0 percent from last year. Sales at nonstore retailers grew 0.1 percent following April’s 1.5 percent increase. Nonstore retailer sales are up 9.1 percent year-over-year as online retailers continue to grow their market share.
Sales at gasoline stations rose 2.0 percent during May after growing 1.0 percent in April. Gasoline station sales are up 17.7 percent since May 2017.
Read the Census release.