Many retailers are still doing it tough.
But with the gradual easing of lockdown restrictions, certain sectors have rebounded strongly.
Retail sales slumped 17.7 per cent in April, reports the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
But pent-up demand resulted in a lift of 16.3 per cent in retail turnover in May to $28.8 billion – up just over $4 billion.
The largest seasonally adjusted upswing in sales in 38 years.
There was a strong uptick in the household goods and homewares category – up 30 per cent.
Clothing, footwear and accessories posted a 100 per cent rise in revenues.
With more people out and about, cafes and restaurants experienced sales growth of 30 per cent.
US retailers also enjoyed a record bounceback in May, following steep slumps in the previous two months – down 8.7 per cent in March and 16.4 per cent in April.
Department stores were big winners in the US – up 36.9 per cent – to help drive overall retail sales growth to 17.7 per cent.
Online sales also rose 9 per cent and major big box retailers such as Walmart and Target experienced a sales rise of 6 per cent.