Retail sales rise 3.9% in May, topping expectations

On Thursday, major chain stores posted a 3.9% sales increase in May compared with the same month a year earlier, slightly above analysts' expectations of a 3.6% rise, according to Thomson Reuters' tally of 18 retailers.

At the Glendale Galleria this week, many shoppers reported feeling more confident about their finances, but said they were still carefully watching their spending and opening wallets for sale items only.

After living a bare-bones lifestyle during school, Rose Wolf, 31, just recently nabbed a nursing job and celebrated by snapping up a $13 black top from Forever 21.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-retail-sales-20120601,0,1078395.story