U.S. Retail Sales Down Slightly in May

U.S. retail sales dipped 1.3 percent last month as the effect of the stimulus checks on consumer spending fades, reports CNN.

The automotive sector was to blame for much of those losses as car sales dropped 3.7 percent according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Without auto sales, May numbers would be down 0.7 percent.

Despite the drop, May 2021 retail sales are still 28 percent higher than the same time last year. Apparel sales, which have taken the brunt of the lockdowns, were up 3 percent in May as Americans begin to return to public life.