U.S. Retail Sales Increase by 0.8% in September
Written with artificial intelligence.
U.S. retail sales, including food services, rose by 0.8% in September compared to August, totaling $745.0 billion, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. This increase exceeded market expectations of a 0.4% rise.
Retail Sales Growth
In September 2026, retail sales in the United States experienced a notable increase of 0.8% from August, reaching a total of $745.0 billion. This data, released on October 15 by the U.S. Department of Commerce, surpassed market predictions, which anticipated a 0.4% growth.
Revised August Figures
The figures for August were also adjusted, with sales being revised upwards from a previously reported increase of 1.1% to 1.3%, amounting to $739.3 billion. When excluding automobile sales, retail sales in September increased by 0.9%. Furthermore, when excluding both automobiles and fuel, the rise was more modest at 0.2%.
Year-over-Year Comparison
When compared to the same month in the previous year, retail sales showed a significant increase of 6.3% in September. Additionally, the overall sales for the period from July to September 2026 grew by 5.5% compared to the same timeframe in the prior year.