May retail surge overlooks LBM industry

Retail and food services sales experienced a sizable boost in May that did not lift the tide of the home improvement and building supply industry.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, total advance estimates, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, came in at $455.6 billion, up 0.5% since April and 2.5% above May 2015.

Additionally, the March 2016 to April 2016 percent change was unrevised at up 1.3%.

Retail trade sales were up 0.4% from April 2016, and up 2.0% from last year.

Nonstore retailers got the biggest year-over-year boost, up 12.2% from May 2015, while health and personal care stores were up 8.3% from last year.

On an adjusted basis, building material and garden equipment & supplies dealers raked in $28.4 billion in May, down 1.8% since April but up 3.6% year-over-year.

The category experienced the largest month-over-month decrease in May, followed by miscellaneous store retailers (down 1.2%).