ADVANCE MONTHLY SALES FOR RETAIL AND FOOD SERVICES May 2012

The U.S. Census Bureau announced that advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for May, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $404.6 billion, a decrease of 0.2 percent (±0.5%) from the previous month, but 5.3 percent (±0.7%) above May 2011.  Total sales for the March through May 2012 period were up 5.7 percent (±0.5%) from the same period a year ago.  The March to April 2012 percent change was revised from 0.1 percent (±0.5) to -0.2 percent (±0.2%). 

Retail trade sales were down 0.2 percent (±0.5%) from April 2012, but 5.0 percent (±0.7%) above last year.  Nonstore retailers sales were up 12.4 percent (±3.1%) from May 2011 and motor vehicles and parts dealers were up 10.0 percent (±2.1%) from last year.