Clothing and accessories sales rose 0.63% month-over-month in June, seasonally adjusted, and surged 13.65% unadjusted year-over-year, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor. That growth rate was the second-highest among nine sectors tracked, behind only digital products. Overall retail sales excluding autos and gas increased 0.33% monthly and 9.41% annually, while core retail sales excluding restaurants, autos, and gas rose 0.36% monthly and 10.08% annually. NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay attributed the strong start to the summer shopping season to summer sales events and early back-to-school shopping, supported by accessible pricing and a stable labor market. On a yearly basis, all major categories grew, led by sporting goods, electronics, and apparel stores at 18.53%.