U.S. retail sales rose during May, posting the third increase in five months, but much of the gain was due to gasoline station receipts given a boost by higher prices.

The 0.5% increase in retail sales reported Thursday by the Commerce Department was smaller than expected. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires forecast a 0.6% increase.

Several categories of retailers tumbled last month. The increases tended to be among sellers of essential items, such as food and clothes.

Filling station sales rose 3.6%. Excluding gasoline sales, other retailers’ sales increased 0.2%. Gas prices have gone up about 28% in the past six weeks, driving station receipts.

Overall retail sales in April were revised higher, decreasing 0.2% instead of 0.4% as previously reported. March sales fell 1.2% instead of 1.3%.

The dollar is mixed in Europe Friday trading, almost unchanged against the single currency in the wake of Thursday’s ECB decision to keep interest rates on hold at 1%. Once again the big mover has been sterling, which has shed almost 2 cents on the day as political pressure piles up on Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who lost another cabinet minister overnight and looks like facing annihilation in the local and European elections. The euro fetches $1.4190, the pound is worth $1.6036 and the greenback fetches Y96.76.

Vietnam shares tipped to continue extending gains on
local buying amid rising inflows as more players move away from dollar savingsto enter stock market after major banks cap interest rates for dollar funds at 1.5% from June. “After strong gains in recent days, it’s reasonable to have profit-taking in select stocks, but because putting money in shares is expected to generate higher returns (than savings in banks), I think buying appetite will continue and the key index is forecast to hit 460 soon,” says trader; tips index in 450-455 range today after ending +3.3% at 440.56 yesterday.