Retail sales for September 2026: out Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 8:30 AM ET
The story goes up on this page shortly after the release: the new numbers, how they compare with before and what they mean for your money. Until then, here is what the release measures and where the last report left off.
What it measures
Monthly sales at US retailers and restaurants, not adjusted for inflation.
Why it matters for your money
Consumer spending is roughly two-thirds of the economy, so this is an early read on how households are holding up.
Where the last report left off
Aug 2026 data
- Retail sales, change from the prior month
- +1.1%Jul 2026: −0.5%
- Retail sales excluding autos, change from the prior month
- +1.3%Jul 2026: −0.2%
View the data as a table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| Aug 2026 | +1.1% |
| Jul 2026 | −0.5% |
| Jun 2026 | +0.2% |
| May 2026 | +1.0% |
| Apr 2026 | +0.6% |
| Mar 2026 | +1.7% |
| Feb 2026 | +0.9% |
| Jan 2026 | −0.6% |
| Dec 2025 | +0.1% |
| Nov 2025 | +0.7% |
| Oct 2025 | −0.1% |
| Sep 2025 | +0.2% |
| Aug 2025 | +0.3% |
| Jul 2025 | +0.9% |
| Jun 2025 | +0.9% |
| May 2025 | −1.4% |
| Apr 2025 | +0.1% |
| Mar 2025 | +1.6% |
| Feb 2025 | −0.5% |
| Jan 2025 | −0.7% |
| Dec 2024 | +0.9% |
| Nov 2024 | +0.6% |
| Oct 2024 | +0.9% |
| Sep 2024 | +0.8% |
Source: Census Bureau, via FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis). Revised figures replace earlier ones.Full release
The last story
Retail sales rose 1.1% in August after a 0.5% decline in JulySales excluding autos rose 1.3% in August, also reversing a July decline of 0.2%, the Census Bureau reported.