Retail sales increased more than expected in May and first-time applications for jobless benefits recently fell, helping to boost the economy, Reuters reported. Retail sales rebounded last month and April compared to March, which saw the first monthly retailing business decline since October 2012.

Last month's retail sales rose 0.6% after edging up 0.1% in April, U.S. Department of Commerce figures showed Thursday. Sales had been expected to rise 0.4%. Core retail sales—excluding autos, building materials and fuel—increased 0.3% after rising 0.2% in April, Reuters reported.

"There is an emerging positive story for consumers and the potential for a virtuous cycle to take hold," said Jim Baird, chief investment officer at Plante Moran Financial Advisors in Kalamazoo, Mich. "Pressure is still largely on the consumer to carry most of the water to keep the economy moving forward."

Consumer spending, which accounts for 70% of U.S. economic activity, increased at its fastest pace in two years during the first quarter, while the economy grew at 2.4% in the first three months of the year.

In a separate report, the U.S. Labor Department said initial claims for state unemployment benefits declined 12,000 to a seasonally adjusted 334,000 last week. The report said the recent pace of steady job gains will continue through early June, Reuters reported.

Filmmaker Darren Wilson, whose three documentaries about God has sold 140,000-plus copies primarily at churches worldwide, has raised more than $350,000 to fund his next film.

He credited kickstarter.com, a "crowd-funding" Web site that raises money for creative projects, to help secure all of the funds needed for Wanderlust Productions' Holy Ghost, with filming set to begin in July.

During the 45-day campaign, 2,356 supporters donated $357,655 or 178% of the goal, making Holy Ghost the No. 1 funded Christian film on Kickstarter, Wilson said.

"I am utterly blown away by the success of this campaign and the overwhelming support from our fans around the world," he said.

Meanwhile, DVDs of Wilson's previous film, Father of Lights, will be made available in the Christian retail channel for the first time beginning Aug. 27 through Capital Christian Distribution.

Finger of God, Wilson's directorial debut, has sold more than 80,000 copies to date, despite Wilson spending only $5,000 in marketing. Its follow-up, Furious Love, was screened by thousands of churches and sold 60,000 copies. It also spawned a live conference and Igniting Furious Love, a book released by Destiny Image in January 2012.

Billed as Wilson's "most challenging adventure to date," Holy Ghost is "a film that will capture the power, mystery and character of the Holy Spirit through amazing God-encounters in all corners around the world," Wanderlust officials said.

The documentary will feature interviews with several noted Christian authors, leaders and music artists, including Bill Johnson, Michael W. Smith, R.T. Kendall, William P. Young, Lee Grady and Heidi Baker.

For more information on Holy Ghost, visit http://holyghost.wpfilm.com/.

Four novels from Bethany House and Revell—divisions of Baker Publishing Group—have been named finalists for Faith, Hope and Love's 2013 Inspirational Reader's Choice Awards.

Courting Cate by Leslie Gould and To Whisper Her Name by Tamera Alexander (both Bethany House) were finalists in the Long Contemporary and Long Historical categories, respectively. A Promise to Love by Serena B. Miller (Revell) was also a finalist in Long Historical.

The finalists for Romantic Suspense were Submerged by Dani Pettrey (Revell); Deadly Chase by Wendy Davy (White Rose); and Trinity by Ronie Kendig (Barbour Publishing).

Other finalists included The Amish Bride by Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould (Harvest House Publishers); Wedded to War by Jocelyn Green (River North); and The Girl in the Glass by Susan Meissner (Waterbrook Press) for Women's Fiction.

Faith, Hope and Love "promotes excellence in romantic and women's fiction that glorifies God and promotes biblical principles," the organization said. The winners of the 13th annual awards will be announced during the Romance Writers of America's 33rd annual conference, to be held July 17-20 in Atlanta.

Visit http://www.faithhopelove-rwa.org/irc.html for a complete list of finalists.

Christian retailers saw sales jump 8.55% in 2012 compared to 2011, according to CBA's annual State of the Industry report. Every quarter last year saw a sales increase versus the same period in 2011.

However, the 2013 CBA State of the Industry Report also found that about 60% of independent retailers suffered sales declines in 2012. But some independents, who reported sales surges, had "very strong increases"—mostly above 7%, with a strong percentage more than 15%, according to CBA's CROSS:SCAN sales data, which is aggregated from 600-plus Christian stores. It's the first year CROSS:SCAN has been used extensively in the survey, CBA officials said.

"Christian stores are in a major transition," CBA President Curtis Riskey said. "Retail success is being defined by two primary strategies: either competing on price or by creatively defining retail space in terms of engagement and relationship.

"The stores that reported sales increases are strong and connecting better with customers both through technology and compelling in-store experiences," he added. "They are adapting to selling e-books and deploying more digital marketing and customer interaction. It's not just about price."

Other key findings from the report:

*Black Friday sales in 2012 were up 22%, overturning a two-year slump of same period declines. However, total Christmas-season sales were up only slightly (1.6%). Political grandstanding over the "fiscal cliff" federal budget talks and payroll-tax increases dampened Christmas season spending overall, according to retail economic analysts.

*There were 39 net store closings in 2012 compared to 22 in 2011 and 63 in 2010. The bump in net store closings was blamed on the lingering recession and high unemployment.

*Books and Bibles remained the top categories for Christian stores. DVD sales increased significantly from 2010 to 2012, up 24.1% in units and 17.9% in dollar sales at suggested retail price.

Riskey will address the future of Christian stores, provide details of the report and discuss the association's changing role in the industry during the International Christian Retail Show (ICRS) in St. Louis. He will hold a press conference at 9 a.m. Monday, June 24, in media room #106 of the America's Center Convention Complex.

Usually published in March, the report was delayed by technical development of new CROSS:SCAN reporting tools and internal changes. The next report is scheduled for release March 2014. The report is free to CBA-member who took part in the survey, and is available for purchase.

For details on the report, visit www.cbaonline.org/nm/SOInew.htm. Visit www.christianretailshow.com for more information on ICRS.

Digital marketing services company Innovative has reported that a record number of Christian retailers in May grew their in-store traffic and sales by utilizing its Signature Websites, email marketing and in-store promotions.

The stores featured more than 600 in-store endcaps promoted through various Signature Websites promotions, which represents a 46% increase in retailer activity during the past 12 months.

"Our Signature Website is an awesome marketing tool bringing customers into the store every day—that's why we love it," said Bruce Erdel, owner of Christian Publishers Outlet. "Coordinating product featured on our homepage with free email promotions, including in-store coupons, has increased customer traffic and in-store sales of featured products as well as overall store sales."

Larry Haege, founder and CEO of Innovative, added: "We understand retailers have limited marketing budgets to drive consumer and church sales. That is why we are committed to providing them with marketing tools necessary for them to compete—free personalized endcap signage, coordinated free personalized emails and online features."

Last month, 600,000-plus personalized email promotions were sent by retailers and customers viewed more than 2 million product pages, with book chapters, author bios, and music, video and e-book samples driving in-store traffic and endcap sales, company officials said.

Innovative previously reported record results from Christian retailers

in the fourth quarter of 2012, with stores selling 80,000-plus products in-store during the October-November time frame through Signature Websites.

Visit www.signaturewebsites.com for more information.

The International Christian Retail Show (ICRS) will once again emphasize Fair Trade June 23-26 at the America's Center Convention Complex in St. Louis.

A special exhibit adjacent to Town Center in the exhibition hall, the Fair Trade in Action area will highlight fair-trade and missional-product companies. The exhibit will help "tell the story behind the product," said CBA officials, noting that the area will be "promoted as cause marketing that aligns with Christian stores' purpose and mission."

"Christian stores are all about mission and service, and these new approaches to ministry help impoverished people escape social ills, [sex] trafficking and slavery through economic development," CBA President Curtis Riskey said. "As consumers increasingly make patronage decisions based on what the store is about and what it supports, Christian stores are expanding their ministry efforts in local communities and around the globe."

Bridgestone Multimedia Group is sponsoring the fair trade badge holders and lanyards. The badges were made by Daughters of Hope in India.

Visit www.christianretailshow.com for more information on ICRS.

The International Christian Retail Show (ICRS) will once again emphasize Fair Trade June 23-26 at the America's Center Convention Complex in St. Louis.

A special exhibit adjacent to Town Center in the exhibition hall, the Fair Trade in Action area will highlight fair-trade and missional-product companies. The exhibit will help "tell the story behind the product," said CBA officials, noting that the area will be "promoted as cause marketing that aligns with Christian stores' purpose and mission."