Retail sales double expectations in May

WASHINGTON, June 12 (UPI) -- U.S. retail sales and food services sales jumped 1 percent in May, the U.S. Commerce Department said Thursday.

Sales jumped to $385.4 billion, 2.5 percent above May 2007 and twice the consensus forecast, which predicted growth of 0.5 percent.

Gasoline sales grew 2.6 percent during the month and 13.8 percent in May from a year ago. Grocery store sales increased 0.6 percent in the month and 6.8 percent in the past 12 months, the report said.

Outside of gasoline, the biggest monthly increase came in building material and garden equipment sales, which grew 2.4 percent for the month, but are down 3.2 percent from a year ago, the government reported.