Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales came in at $745 billion for September 2026, up 0.8% from the previous month and beating market expectations of 0.3%. This followed an increase of 1.3% in August, upwardly revised from 1.1%. Sales at gasoline stations increased 6.4% over the month in September. Total sales excluding gas stations edged up by 0.2% from the prior month. On a year-over-year basis, retail sales were up 6.2% from September 2025.
The ABA Office of the Chief Economist believes this month’s retail sales report highlights the continued resilience of consumers despite inflationary pressures weighing on purchasing power. Stronger retail sales could help support demand for consumer and consumer-related business loans. However, sustained higher spending on essentials could negatively impact consumer loan performance.
