NEW YORK — Retailers are reporting sales gains for May that suggest Americans cautiously loosened their purse strings to take advantage of new styles and Mother’s Day promotions.

Major retailers including Target Corp., Costco Corp. and Limited Brands Inc. all posted healthy gains from a year ago.

Additional Photos

FILE- A Feb. 20, 2012, file photo, shows flat screen televisions at a Target store in Methuen, Mass. Target Corp. is reporting a 1.2 percent increase in first-quarter profit as the discounter pulled in more shoppers for food and trendy fashions. Target�s results come as economists are carefully dissecting consumer spending trends amid growing economic uncertainty. Like many retailers, Target saw that business in April 2012 was disappointing as warmer-than-usual weather earlier in February and March and an early Easter pulled sales forward. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File) ASSOCIATED PRESS

Target and Limited both reported gains in a key measurement that topped Wall Street expectations. Costco also said revenue at stores open at least a year was up 4 percent. That was shy of the 4.3 percent analysts expected, but lower gas prices dragged down the number.

On Wednesday, Macy’s Inc. said revamped offerings pushed up the measurement 4.2 percent.

Revenue at stores open at least a year is a key measurement of retail operating performance because it excludes figures from newly opened and closed stores.