Key Points:
- May retail sales increased 17.7% from April, exceeding the 8% forecast by Dow Jones.
- This was the largest increase in month-over-month growth ever recorded, well above the previous record of 6.7% from October 2001.
- Clothing stores saw the largest spike at 188%.
- Food services and drinking establishments saw a 29.1% increase in May, a positive sign of recovery.