August 2026 U.S. retail sales remained positive in real terms, but the headline conceals two important pressures: relative weakness in motor vehicles and the growing share of household spending absorbed by gasoline. The broad figures are encouraging at first glance. Total retail and food-services sales increased by 1.856% year over year in August, while the January–August … [Read more...] about August 2026 U.S. Retail Sales: Real Growth Persists, but Fuel Costs Distort the Headline
Census Bureau
U.S. Retail Sales July 2026: Real Spending Improves, but Gasoline Demands Caution
July confirmed that U.S. retail spending is recovering in real terms, but the expansion remains narrow. Elevated gasoline spending strengthened the total index without providing the same economic benefit as broader demand for goods and services. Key Takeaways Official seasonally adjusted retail and food-services sales fell 0.6% month on month in July but remained 5.0% … [Read more...] about U.S. Retail Sales July 2026: Real Spending Improves, but Gasoline Demands Caution
June 2026 Retail Sales After CPI: Real Consumer Spending Improves
Unadjusted US retail-sales data for June 2026, adjusted using CPI All Items, provides an encouraging indication of recovery in real consumer spending. However, the wider six-month trend remains more moderate than the June result alone suggests. Official June 2026 Retail Sales The US Census Bureau estimated seasonally adjusted retail and food-services sales of $768.6 billion … [Read more...] about June 2026 Retail Sales After CPI: Real Consumer Spending Improves
Retail Sales and Consumption: Energy Costs Continue to Weaken Real Consumer Demand
May 2026 retail-sales analysis, with an energy-price update through mid-June 2026 The current retail-sales and consumption picture is not positive. Although headline sales may rise in nominal dollar terms, inflation-adjusted data indicate that consumers are purchasing less in real terms across important parts of the economy. A sustained slowdown in consumption does not affect … [Read more...] about Retail Sales and Consumption: Energy Costs Continue to Weaken Real Consumer Demand