US retail sales rise 0.9pc in May

17th Jun 2026 13:30

(Sharecast News) - US retail sales rose 0.9% in May, according to advance estimates from the Census Bureau, hitting $763.7bn.

Sales for the March-May period were up 5.3% compared with the same three months in 2025, while April's monthly gain was revised down slightly to 0.4%. On an annualised basis, retail sales registered a 6.9% increase.

Retail trade sales were 1.0% higher on the month and 7.5% above last year's level, while non‑store retailers continued to lead the way with a 12.2% annual rise. Food services and drinking places posted a 2.7% increase versus May 2025.

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com