May US Retail Sales Rise More Than Expected, Ex-Auto Sales Up

08:44 AM EDT, 06/17/2026 (MT Newswires) -- US retail sales rose by 0.9% in May, a larger gain than the 0.6% increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:35 am ET and following the previous month's revised 0.4% gain.

Excluding a 1.2% increase in motor vehicle sales, retail sales were still up 0.8% compared with an expected 0.6% gain. That followed a 0.7% gain in April.

Removing both motor vehicles and a 3.4% gain in gasoline station sales, retail sales were up 0.5% in May, the same as in April.

Sales at food services and drinking places fell 0.1% after a 0.9% gain in the previous month.

There were notable gains in sales of furniture, health care, clothing, sporting goods, and at miscellaneous and nonstore retailers.

Control group sales, which exclude autos, building materials, gas and food services, rose by 0.8% after a 0.4% gain in the previous month.

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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