Retail sales reached $73.2 billion in May, an increase of 1.1% compared with the same month one year earlier. Higher sales were reported in 7 of the 18 commodity classes.
The advance estimate provided by the Monthly Retail Trade Survey suggests that unadjusted total retail sales in June decreased by 2.7%. Because of its preliminary nature, this figure will be revised.
The largest increase in dollar terms came from sales of food and beverages, which rose 4.2% in May 2024 compared with the same month in 2023. Sales of eggs and dairy products (+10.4%) led the gains in this commodity class in May 2024, followed by sales of cookies, confectionery, and snack foods (+9.1%).
Retail sales of motor vehicles (+3.2%) grew in May. The largest gain within this commodity class stemmed from higher sales of new motor vehicles (+7.6%), which more than offset the lower sales of used motor vehicles (-3.1%).
The largest decline in May was in sales of hardware, tools, and renovation and lawn and garden products (-5.1%). In dollar terms, the leading decrease within this product class came from lower sales of live plants, seeds, and other home and garden supplies (-13.6%).
Table 1: Sales by type of commodity, all retail stores - Seasonally unadjusted
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Note to readers
The Retail Commodity Survey collects national-level retail sales data, by commodity, from the same businesses surveyed in the Monthly Retail Trade Survey. No data have been seasonally adjusted. All percentage changes are year over year.
New classification standard
As of the January 2023 reference period, Retail Commodity Survey figures are based on the 2022 North American Product Classification System (NAPCS) and the North American Industry Classification System structures. These new classification structures have introduced new commodities, updated commodity definitions and broadened the industry scope for the estimates of the Retail Commodity Survey.
Tables 20-10-0016 and 20-10-0017 have been archived. National monthly commodity estimates in NAPCS 2022 are now available in table 20-10-0080 starting with January 2023. National industry-based quarterly commodity estimates are available in table 20-10-0071 starting in the first quarter of 2023.
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Reference
Contact information
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