Retail posts solid gains in June

The U.S. Department of Commerce said retail sales have increased 6.6 percent from one year ago and revised its May sales numbers, higher, from a 0.8 percent rise to a 1.3 percent rise, the largest since September 2017.

Despite these revised growth numbers, core retail spending on automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services remained the same in the month of May. CNBC says the sharp narrowing of the trade deficit in April and May is credited to the high expectations of a strong GDP reading in the second quarter.

The clothing sector was one that didn’t fare, as well. Sales at apparel stores fell 2.5 percent, representing a large drop since last February. Online sales rose 1.3 percent after a 0.4 percent rise in May.

This news was originally posted by our sister publication, VMSD and edited to meet Brand Experience magazine’s editorial stylebook.