by Calculated Risk on 6/14/2011 08:30:00 AM

On a monthly basis, retail sales decreased 0.2% from April to May (seasonally adjusted, after revisions), and sales were up 7.7% from May 2010. From the Census Bureau report:

The U.S. Census Bureau announced today 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 $387.1 billion, a decrease of 0.2 percent (±0.5%) from the previous month, but 7.7 percent (±0.7%) above May 2010.

Click on graph for larger image in graph gallery.

This graph shows retail sales since 1992. This is monthly retail sales and food service, seasonally adjusted (total and ex-gasoline).

Retail sales are up 16.4% from the bottom, and now 2.3% above the pre-recession peak.

The second graph shows the year-over-year change in retail sales and food service (ex-gasoline) since 1993.

Retail sales ex-gasoline increased by 6.1% on a YoY basis (7.7% for all retail sales).

This was above expectations for a 0.5% decrease. Retail sales ex-autos were up 0.3%; at expectations of a 0.3% increase. As expected, auto sales impacted retail sales (due to supply disruptions).

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