Consumers spending pulled back sharply in May, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday. Retail sales declined 0.9%, according to numbers adjusted for seasonality but not inflation. Excluding autos, sales fell 0.3%.
Building materials and garden stores saw sales fall 2.7%, while sliding energy prices pushed gasoline station receipts down 2%. Motor vehicles and parts retailers were off 3.5%, while bars and restaurants saw sales decline 0.9%.
On the plus side, miscellaneous retailers gained 2.9%, while online sales rose 0.9% and furniture stores increased sales by 1.2%.
The pullback in retail sales came despite surveys showing that consumer sentiment actually improved in May, though compared with levels that had been falling through the year.