May US Retail Sales Fall More Than Expected, Ex-Auto Sales Decline

08:45 AM EDT, 06/17/2025 (MT Newswires) -- US retail sales fell by 0.9% in May, a larger drop than the 0.6% decrease expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:30 am ET and following the previous month's 0.1% decline.

Excluding a 3.5% decrease in motor vehicle sales, retail sales were down 0.3% compared with an expected 0.2% gain. That followed a flat reading in April.

Removing both motor vehicles and a 2% drop in gasoline station sales, retail sales were down 0.1% in May after a 0.1% gain in April.

Sales at food services and drinking places fell by 0.9% after a 0.8% gain in the previous month and building materials sales were down 2.7%.

There were also declines at electronics stores and grocery stores offset by gains at clothing stores, sporting goods stores, miscellaneous store retailers and nonstore retailers.

The monthly retail sales report from the US Commerce Department measures spending on retail products and food, the largest portion of economic growth. The report covers spending on goods with a services report released later each month.

Investors watch the control group that excludes food services, autos, gasoline and building materials because it feeds directly into the GDP report measuring economic growth.

If the data shows a strong US economy, that's generally bullish for stocks and bearish for bonds.

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