US Retail Sales Growth
Retail and food services sales rose 6.3% over the 12 months ending September 2026, up from 5.6% in August 2026. Sales totaled $745.0 billion for the month, seasonally adjusted. A year earlier (Sep 2025), the reading was 3.7%.
Retail Sales Growth: chart
12-month % change in retail and food services sales, seasonally adjusted, not adjusted for inflation.
Latest readings
Monthly data| Month | 12-month change | Change (pp) | Sales in month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | 6.3% | +0.7 | $745.0B |
| Aug 2026 | 5.6% | +1.1 | $739.3B |
| Jul 2026 | 4.5% | -1.4 | $729.9B |
| Jun 2026 | 5.9% | -0.8 | $732.9B |
| May 2026 | 6.7% | +2.6 | $731.4B |
| Apr 2026 | 4.1% | +0.5 | $723.9B |
| Mar 2026 | 3.6% | +0.1 | $719.7B |
| Feb 2026 | 3.5% | +1.3 | $708.0B |
| Jan 2026 | 2.2% | +0.1 | $701.9B |
| Dec 2025 | 2.1% | -0.8 | $706.3B |
| Nov 2025 | 2.9% | +0.1 | $705.5B |
| Oct 2025 | 2.8% | -0.9 | $700.8B |
| Sep 2025 | 3.7% | -0.7 | $700.9B |
| Aug 2025 | 4.4% | +0.7 | $700.4B |
| Jul 2025 | 3.7% | -0.2 | $698.3B |
| Jun 2025 | 3.9% | +1.2 | $691.9B |
| May 2025 | 2.7% | -1.9 | $685.5B |
| Apr 2025 | 4.6% | 0.0 | $695.5B |
| Mar 2025 | 4.6% | +1.7 | $694.8B |
| Feb 2025 | 2.9% | -1.1 | $683.8B |
| Jan 2025 | 4.0% | +0.3 | $687.1B |
| Dec 2024 | 3.7% | +0.8 | $691.8B |
| Nov 2024 | 2.9% | +0.8 | $685.7B |
| Oct 2024 | 2.1% | +1.4 | $681.8B |
pp = percentage points.
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All US economy indicators →Frequently asked questions
How fast are US retail sales growing?
Retail and food services sales rose 6.3% over the 12 months ending September 2026, up from 5.6% in August 2026. Sales totaled $745.0 billion for the month, seasonally adjusted. A year earlier (Sep 2025), the reading was 3.7%.
Are retail sales adjusted for inflation?
No. They are reported in current dollars, so part of any increase reflects higher prices. Subtracting CPI inflation from the year-over-year growth rate gives a rough idea of real growth in volumes.
What is the retail sales control group?
It excludes autos, gasoline, building materials and food services — the most volatile categories. Economists watch it because it feeds directly into the government's estimate of consumer spending in GDP.
Why do retail sales matter for the stock market?
They show whether consumers — the engine of US growth — are still spending. That drives revenue for retailers, restaurants, travel and consumer brands, and shapes expectations for GDP and Fed policy.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, via FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (series RSAFS). Data checked Nov 6, 5:40 PM ET. Not investment advice.