On a monthly basis, retail sales increased 0.5 percent from April to May (seasonally adjusted), and sales were up 3.2 percent from May 2018.



From the Census Bureau report:



Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for May 2019, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $519.0 billion, an increase of 0.5 percent from the previous month, and 3.2 percent above May 2018. ... The March 2019 to April 2019 percent change was revised from down 0.2 percent to up 0.3 percent.

emphasis added

Click on graph for larger image.

This graph shows retail sales since 1992. This is monthly retail sales and food service, seasonally adjusted (total and ex-gasoline).Retail sales ex-gasoline were up 0.6% in May.The second graph shows the year-over-year change in retail sales and food service (ex-gasoline) since 1993. Retail and Food service sales, ex-gasoline, increased by 3.0% on a YoY basis.The increase in May was below expectations, however sales in March and April were revised up. Overall a solid report.