Jewelry sales were up 203.4 percent in May 2021 compared to the same month a year earlier, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the latest Mastercard SpendingPulse report.
Sales were up 44.7 percent from May 2019.
Total U.S. retail sales, excluding automotive and gasoline, increased 12.2% year-over-year in May 2021, and 10.2 percent compared to May 2019. Online sales in May grew 1.1 percent and 94.8 percent respectively, compared to the same periods.
Mastercard SpendingPulse reports that May marked the eighth consecutive month of total retail sales growth, excluding automotive and gasoline.
Total U.S. retail sales are expected to grow 5.5 percent excluding automotive and gas during the critical July 15 through Sept. 6 back-to-school period compared to 2020. Compared to 2019, sales are expected to grow 6.7 percent.
Mastercard SpendingPulse measures in-store and online retail sales across all forms of payment.