U.S. retail sales flat in April

U.S. retail sales in April edged down by 0.3 percent from March, according to estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau, but were 46.1 percent higher than last April. Clothing and clothing accessories stores soared by 726.8 percent from April 2020, while food services and drinking places were up 116.8 percent. Sales by LBM dealers and garden centres were estimated at $43.2 billion on an adjusted basis, up from $38.1 billion a year ago.