More U.S. retail sales move online

An unprecedented shift in U.S. consumers’ buying habits was reaffirmed in May, Bespoke Investment Group LLC wrote in an email Friday. Online merchants accounted for about 12% of last month’s retail sales, according to figures compiled by the Commerce Department. They exceeded the 11.8% share for department stores and other general-merchandise chains. Stores reached by mouse clicks generated more sales than the brick-and-mortar retailers for the first time in February.