US Retail Sales Unexpectedly Rise in June

US Retail Sales Unexpectedly Rise in June
Customers visit Macy's flagship store in New York City, N.Y., on May 20, 2021. Eduardo Munoz/Reuters
Reuters
Updated:

WASHINGTON—U.S. retail sales unexpectedly increased in June as demand for goods remained strong even as spending is shifting back to services.

The rebound in sales reported by the Commerce Department on Friday was despite purchases of motor vehicles declining again because of a lack of supply caused by a global semiconductor shortage. The scarcity of new motor vehicles is boosting demand for used cars and trucks, helping to fuel inflation.