LBM dealers got a retail sales bump in April

According to adjusted advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for April 2017, the retail industry's sales came out to $474.9 billion, up 0.4% (4.5% for the year).

Retail trade sales were also up 0.4% for the month and 4.5% for the year.

Also worth noting: the February 2017 to March 2017 percent change was revised from down 0.2% to up 0.1%.

With sales of $31.2 billion, building material & garden equipment & supplies dealers were well ahead of the pack, jumping ahead 1.2% for the month and 9.3% for the year.

Gasoline stations made the most dramatic year-over-year recovery, rising 12.3%.

For the month, nonstore retailers increased the most, rising 1.4%.