RETAILING

Retail Sales Slip 1.8% in May: U.S. retail sales in May fell at a projected rate of 1.8% from April, amid cool and rainy weather last week in the East and Midwest, a survey by Johnson Redbook Service said. Retail sales at more than 20 department stores, discount outlets and chain stores for the three weeks ended May 22 rose at a seasonally adjusted rate of 7.1% from the year-ago period, according to the service, a unit of the investment firm Lynch, Jones & Ryan.