The most notable gains in the May data occurred at restaurants (+2.6%), apparel stores (+2.9%), and building material stores (+2.5%). In June, apparel store sales fell back (-2.5%), but restaurants and building material stores saw further gains, up 1.5% and 0.8%, respectively.
Net of these swings, building material stores have not exhibited a break in trend this year, but restaurants and apparel stores do suggest stronger trend growth than what we had seen in recent years up through first quarter 2018. Most other store types show generally the same sales growth trends as were in place over recent years. Meanwhile, we should point out that only the books/sporting goods/music complex shows declining sales, and this might merely reflect lost sales to online vendors.
For retail as a whole, the chart is indicative. Total control sales rose above trend in May, but have offset some of that upturn in June. Has the consumer really turned the corner to a faster spending growth pace, or will the May gains turn out to be a one-month blip, just as did very strong sales gains in November 2017?
Our bet is on the latter outcome. The narrow focus of the May gains is perhaps a nod in favor of our take, but the May gains are, admittedly, sufficiently large to give one pause. Also, the issue is whether consumption trends are stable or accelerating. There is no indication anywhere of weakening trends.