Jewelry sales in the US more than tripled in May, fueled by a release of pent-up demand amid a further reopening of the economy, according to Mastercard SpendingPulse.

Sales in the category increased 203% year on year during the month, reflecting a comparison with May of last year, when many stores were closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, jewelry spending also increased 45% versus 2019, Mastercard said last week.

The return to work and school has also spurred purchasing across many product categories as consumers looked to refresh their wardrobes.

�This year, the broader reopening brings an exciting wave of optimism as children prepare for another school year, and the grown-ups in their lives approach a similar �return-to-office� scenario,� said Mastercard senior adviser Steve Sadove. �This...season will be defined by choice as online sales remain robust, brick-and-mortar browsing regains momentum, and strong promotions help retailers compete for shoppers� wallets.�

Spending in all retail categories climbed 12% year on year and advanced 10% over May 2019, while e-commerce revenue was up 1% versus May 2020 and skyrocketed 95% compared to the same month of 2019.

Some of the sectors that suffered the most in 2020 are seeing the largest year-on-year gains, Mastercard added. Sales at department stores rose 212%, while lodging grew 254% and spending at restaurants climbed 85%.

Image: A couple buying jewelry. (Shutterstock)