U.S. Retail Sales Reach $745 Billion in September 2026
National retail and food services sales rose by 0.8 percent in September, reflecting steady consumer spending growth.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Economic Indicators
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U.S. retail and food services sales reached $745.0 billion in September 2026. This figure represents a 0.8 percent increase from August 2026 and a 6.3 percent rise compared to September 2025.
Why it matters
The consistent growth in retail sales through the third quarter indicates ongoing consumer spending patterns across the national economy. Total sales for July through September 2026 rose 5.5 percent compared to the same period in 2025.
Retail sales data, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday differences, totaled $745.0 billion in September 2026. This reflects a quarterly year-over-year growth rate of 5.5 percent for the period spanning July through September.
The details
Unadjusted sales for NAICS 444, which includes building material and garden equipment stores, reached $44.082 billion in September 2026, up from $42.128 billion in September 2025. Hardware stores specifically recorded $3.89 billion in sales during August 2026, contributing to a year-to-date total of $29.57 billion.
Timeline
August 2025: Hardware store sales reached $3.58 billion.
September 2025: Total retail and food services sales served as a key year-over-year benchmark.
July 2026: Hardware store sales totaled $3.94 billion.
August 2026: Hardware store sales reached $3.89 billion.
September 2026: U.S. retail and food services sales reached $745.0 billion.
Macro View
Current sales figures show an upward trajectory when measured against the 2025 retail and food services benchmarks. This growth mirrors previous cyclical expansions in consumer spending, diverging from periods of stagnation.
The steady rise in retail sales suggests that household consumption remains robust, which may influence future personal budget planning. Readers may observe continued consumer activity across major retail sectors despite ongoing economic fluctuations.
The takeaway
The sustained increase in retail activity points to a resilient consumer environment throughout the third quarter of 2026. Tracking these figures helps households better understand broad spending trends that may impact their local economy and retail prices.
Further reading
For broader context on current economic trends, see the Economic Indicators section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by HBS Dealer.
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