Motor vehicles, building materials lift US retail sales in May

U.S. retail sales unexpectedly rose in May as consumers stepped up purchases of motor vehicles and building materials, which could help to stave off a dreaded recession in the near term. While other data on Thursday showed first-time applications for state unemployment benefits holding steady last week at more than a 1-1/2-year high, indicating layoffs could be rising, economists continued to view the labor market as tight. Minnesota recently changed policy to make non-instructional educational

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