US Retail Sales Top Expectations

Retail sales in the US increased 1.2% month-over-month in August 2026, the most in five months, following a revised 0.5% fall in July which was the first decline since October 2025, and compared to forecasts of a 0.8% gain. Sales at gasoline stations recorded the biggest increase (3.1%), followed by nonstore retailers (2.6%); miscellaneous store retailers (1.9%); electronics & appliance stores (1.6%); food services & drinking places (1.2%); sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument & book stores (1.2%); furniture (0.9%); clothing (0.7%); general merchandise stores (0.7%); motor vehicles && parts (0.6%); and food & beverages stores (0.4%). In contrast, sales declined at building material & garden equipment stores (-0.2%). The data is not adjusted for inflation. Sales excluding food services, auto dealers, building materials stores and gasoline stations, which are used to calculate GDP, jumped 1.4%, much higher than forecasts of 0.4%.

US retail sales fell 0.6% month-on-month in July 2026, sharply missing expectations for a 0.1% rise and reversing June’s 0.2% gain. It was the first decline since October 2025 and the biggest since May last year, driven by weaker sales at nonstore retailers (-2.2%), likely reflecting spending pulled forward into June after Amazon moved its Prime Day event from July to June this year. Also, sales fell at motor vehicle & parts dealers (-1.8%), gasoline stations (-0.9%) and electronics & appliance stores (-0.5%). The data is not adjusted for inflation. Excluding autos and gasoline, sales fell 0.2%. Increases were seen in sales at clothing & clothing accessories stores (1.9%), health & personal care stores (0.7%), building material & garden eq. & supplies dealers (0.3%), and furniture & home furn. stores (0.3%). Sales excluding food services, auto dealers, building materials stores and gasoline stations, which are used to calculate GDP, were down 0.4%, the most since the start of 2025.

Retail sales in the US rose 0.2% mom in June 2026, following an upwardly revised 1% rise in May and in line with expectations. It marked the smallest increase in five months, as lower gasoline prices weighed on receipts at gas stations while consumer spending remained resilient in general. The data is not adjusted for inflation. Excluding gasoline, retail sales rose 0.7%. Increases were seen in sales at motor vehicle & part dealers (1.9%), nonstore retailers (1.9%), sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument (1.3%), electronics & appliances (0.8%), building materials (0.1%), general merchandise stores (0.1%) and food & drinking places (0.1%). In contrast, sales flattened at furniture stores and declined 5.3% at gasoline stations. Other decreases were also seen at health (-0.8%), miscellaneous (-0.3%) and food & beverages (-0.2%). Meanwhile, sales excluding food services, auto dealers, building materials stores and gasoline stations, which are used to calculate GDP, were up 0.5%.