U.S. retail sales rise, past months revised up

WASHINGTON — U.S. retail sales grew across several categories in May, while estimates for the two previous months were revised higher. Sales rose by 0.5% in May following a 0.3% increase in April, revised by the U.S. Commerce Department from a decline. May’s increase was just shy of the median 0.6% growth forecast by economists in a survey by Bloomberg. Overall, 11 of 13 retail categories saw growth, with a 1.4% increase among non-store retailers. Only food and beverage stores and miscellaneous retailers posted declines.