The U.S. Census Bureau announced Thursday that advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for May, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $421.1 billion, an increase of 0.6% from the previous month, and 4.3% above May 2012.

Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers -- NAICS code 444 companies -- were up 10.1% from last year. The sector’s adjusted sales were $26.387 billion, up from $26.158 billion in April. 

Scotts Miracle-Gro has achieved its goal of removing phosphorus from its Turf Builder brand lawn food maintenance products. The commitment was first announced on World Water Day in 2011 as a partial solution to nutrient runoff that can lead to excessive algae growth in waterways.

Work clothes maker Dickies will expand its occupational wear division’s product offerings, as well as its geographical availability. 

Springfield, Mass.-based Rocky’s Ace Hardware collected more than three tons (6,556 lbs.) of pet food, along with beds, leashes, treats, toys and cleaning supplies during its second annual pet food drive. The supplies were delivered to local animal shelters.

Each of the 33 Rocky’s Ace Hardware stores partnered with an area Humane Society or Shelter to collect food during the holiday.

Simpson Strong-Tie has announced it will make a $25,000 donation to assist in the relief response and recovery efforts throughout the East Coast in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. The funds were given directly to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund and will aid in providing food, shelter, emotional support and other assistance to those affected by the hurricane. 

Scotts Miracle-Gro, the nation’s largest supplier of lawn and garden products, has been sentenced to pay a $4 million fine for 11 criminal violations relating to the use of toxic insecticides in its wild bird feed products. The Marysville, Ohio-based company also agreed to  more than $6 million in penalties and $2 million for environmental projects under a settlement that resolves additional civil pesticide violations filed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

When Mike Clark, True Value’s senior VP and chief merchandising officer, talks about growth areas, he points to canning, he points to pet food. He points to strength in these warm times, of anything that moves cool air through a ouse, or moves water around the yard.

But Clark seems most excited about initiatives in farm and ranch. 

Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales were up slightly in July, according to data released Tuesday by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, July monthly sales were $403.9 billion, up 0.8% from the previous month, and up 4.1% from July last year.

For building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers (NAICS classification 444), July sales were $23.46 billion, up 1.0% from both June 2012 and July 2011.

Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers had a strong month in April compared with a year ago, according to government data released Tuesday.

The U.S. Census Bureau announced that advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for April were up 0.1% to $408 billion. The April figure, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences but not for price changes, was up 6.4% from the April 2011 estimate.

NSF International, an independent global organization that writes standards, tests and certifies products for the food, water and consumer goods industries, has launched the NSF Home Product Certification Program for home kitchen products and appliances. NSF announced the new program on March 12 at the International Home and Housewares Show in Chicago.