Consumer Confidence Boosts Retail Sales

The raging U.S. economy encouraged Americans to go on a shopping spree in May, boosting sales at the nation’s biggest retailers to better-than-expected levels for the fourth straight month.

Discounters and specialty clothing stores fared best last month.

The Merrill Lynch retail index, the investment firm’s barometer of sales performance at department stores and discount chains, was up 4.8 percent in May. It rose 6.4 percent in May 1998.