Mall employee Glenby Ramirez, right, wipes down the escalator handrail while shoppers pass by as South Coast Plaza reopens, requiring customers maintain a social distance and wear face masks at South Coast Plaza Thursday, June 11, 2020 in Costa Mesa, CA.
Allen J. Schaben | Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Retail sales shattered already-lofty expectations for May as consumers freed from the coronavirus-induced lockdowns began shopping again.
The 17.7% headline gain including food sales easily topped the previous record from October 2001 and beat the 8% estimate from economists surveyed by Dow Jones.
Retail sales powered 16.8% higher from April, more than double the estimate of 8% from Dow Jones and reversing a 16.4% plunge from a month ago. Clothing and accessories stores reported the biggest percentage gain at 188% while sporting goods, hobby, musical instruments and book stores rose 88.2%.
The numbers added to an already-upbeat mood on Wall Street, with Dow futures most recently pointing to an opening gain of more than 900 points.
Excluding motor vehicles and parts, which popped by 44.1%, May’s gain came in at 12.4%.
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