Retail sales for May were a seasonally adjusted $377.9 billion, a 1.4 percent increase over April’s 0.1 percent dip, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.
The increase is the largest since the department reported a 3.3 percent increase in retail sales in January 2006.
Gas station sales increased 3.8 percent in May, the department said. Gas sales in particular rose 1.8 percent.
Automobile and parts sales increased by 1.8 percent after a 0.5 percent decrease in April.
Without gas and cars, other retail sales increased 1.0 percent in May, the department reported.
