US retail sales rose 1% in May – the largest increase since November – according to government figures.

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The growth beat forecasts, which predicted an rise of around 0.5%, and it followed small increases in March and April.


In the three months to the end of May, US retail sales have risen 2.6%, suggesting that stimulus payments from the Bush administration are paying off.


Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez said the May increase was “welcome news” – and pointed to Bush’s “economic growth package”.


“Putting cash in the hands of about 130m American households allows consumers to spend their money as they see fit,” Gutierrez said.

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Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

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Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

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