US Retail Sales Post Record Resurgence in May

U.S. retail sales experienced a record rise in May as 2.5 million Americans went back to work and people began moving about more freely.

Shoppers are seen outside a retail store as the phase one reopening of New York City continues during the outbreak of the CCP virus in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on June 9, 2020. Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

U.S. retail sales experienced a record rise in May as 2.5 million Americans went back to work and people began moving about more freely.

The Commerce Department on June 16 said overall retail receipts rose 17.7 percent last month after falling by a record 14.7 percent in April. The gain exceeded the previous record increase of 6.7 percent in October 2001 as Americans resumed spending following what was then a record pullback in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.