Retail Sales Down in May

Washington, DC, June 14, 2011 -- Retail sales fell in May for the first time in 11 months, the Commerce Department said.

Total retail sales slipped 0.2%, after a 0.3% rise in April.

Economists had expected retail sales to fall 0.4%.

Retail sales last month were hurt by a 2.9% drop in sales of motor vehicles, the largest decline since February 2010, as a shortage of parts following the earthquake in Japan left inventories lean and prompted manufacturers to raise prices.

Excluding autos, retail sales rose 0.3% last month, the smallest gain since July, after rising 0.5% in April.