Retail sales across the United States totaled $343.6 billion last month, half a percentage point below their April total, the U.S. Commerce Department reported on June 14. Economists generally expected a decline in retail sales in May, but the percentage decline was more than twice the two-tenths percent anticipated.
Sales of cars, gasoline, clothing, and electronics and appliances were lower in May than in April, with both auto and gasoline sales declining 1.6%.
Excluding autos, retail sales were down two-tenths of a percent in May, right in line with economists' expectations.
