In the revision announced today, however, May sales swung from the down side to rise eight-tenths of a percent.

Reports earlier this week that consumer confidence was waning were reflected in May sales for most big retailers.

And they are five times the projections of $37 million to $48 million for the May 1988 sales, which totaled $56 million.

Many retailers said their May sales were only marginally higher or down from levels of a year ago.

"Some people hailed the upturn in late May sales as a recovery, but it ain't."

Analysts estimated May sales around $5 billion, about half of what had been expected.

Over all, the retailer's May sales, dropped slightly, to $688 million from $692 million.

The action comes shortly after Chrysler reported that its May sales rose 17 percent, to 245,289 units.

"And our May sales are running ahead of that."

Some retail issues were lower on expectations of weaker May sales reports.