Core sales, which strip out cars, petrol, and building materials and correspond most closely with the consumer spending component of gross domestic product, increased by 0.5%.

BBC: US retail sales inch up in April

Which brings me to my next point: Many central banks tend to focus on core measures of inflation which strip out food and energy prices.

FORBES: Inflation Fears and Facts

Even core measures of inflation, which strip out energy goods and services, and food, went up notably .

FORBES: The Fed's New NAIRU: Evil Enough To Unite Democrats And Republicans

Core inflation (which seems to strip out almost all inflationary pressures) looks benign.

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Economists pay close attention to so-called core capital goods orders because they strip out more volatile defense and aircraft orders.

NPR: Orders For US Durable Goods Fall 5.7 Pct. In March