WASHINGTON: US retail sales rose strongly in May as Americans bought cars and a range of other goods, even as they paid more for gasoline.
The Commerce Department said retail sales increased 0.5 percent last month after surging by an unrevised 1.3 percent in April. The second straight month of gains boosted sales 2.5 percent from a year ago, Reuters said.
Excluding automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services, retail sales rose a 0.4 percent last month after an upwardly revised 1.0 percent increase in April.