IE Business Daily Business news for the Inland Empire.
May was another strong month for retail nationwide, with sales rising for the eighth consecutive month despite higher gas prices and persistent inflation.
Total sales were up 0.42 percent compared with April and 7.2 percent in May 2025, according to the CNBC/National Retail Federation Retail Monitor.
Those numbers did not include gasoline or automobile sales. The month-over-month numbers were seasonally adjusted, the year-over-year numbers were not.
“Retail sales maintained momentum in May, driven by a resilient labor market and consumers’ willingness to spend on retail goods despite pressure from elevated gas prices, tariffs and the conflict in the Middle East,” said Matthew Shay, the federation’s president and chief executive officer, in the statement.
“As support from this year’s large tax refunds fades, consumers are prioritizing essentials and finding creative ways to stretch their household budgets.”
Core retail sales, which exclude restaurant sales along with gasoline and automobile transactions, was up 0.39 percent month-over-month in May and up seven percent year-over-year, according to the report.
