Scoring Boxes
Easing of Coronavirus Restrictions Spurs Retail Sales BY DICK STORAT
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onsumer purchases reignited economic activity in May as restrictions to contain the coronavirus were eased across most of the United States. Retail and food service sales, which include purchases at stores, restaurants, and online, rebounded strongly to mark the end of the first plunge of economic activity. These sales rose by an unprecedented 17.7% in May, more than erasing April’s record 14.7% nosedive. The wild swing in sales reflects the shock of shutting down an economy that had been growing at a steady pace and its surprisingly rapid initial rebound. Amid these record-breaking changes, some sectors have fared better than others. This article will assess each of the major sectors of retail and food service
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BOXSCORE September/October 2020
Retail Sales Percent Change January–May Retail Sales Percent2020 Change January–May 2020
12.7%
Grocery Stores
7.1%
Building Materials –0.7%
General Stores Retail Sales
– 3.7% – 6.6%
Motor Vehicles
– 10.1%
Drugstores –23.8%
Furniture
– 26.6%
Others Appliances
– 30.4% – 41.1%
Restaurants Clothing
– 63.9%
–80% Source: U.S. Census Bureau
–60%
–40%
–20%
0%
20%
40%
