US retail sales rose modestly in August 2026, marking an 11th consecutive month of growth, according to the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor.
Sales excluding automobile dealers and petrol stations increased 0.22% month on month and 3.87% year on year. Both figures were seasonally adjusted.
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Core retail sales, which also exclude restaurants, rose 0.17% month on month and 3.47% year on year.
Consumers remain cautious
NRF president and chief executive Matthew Shay said households remained “budget-conscious” and were using back-to-school promotions to make their spending go further.
He also pointed to low unemployment and steady wage gains as factors supporting consumer spending.
The figures indicate continued growth in US retail sales, although the relatively modest monthly increase points to a market in which consumers remain attentive to their budgets.
New methodology affects comparisons
The August results cannot be directly compared with previously published Retail Monitor figures, including the July results, because the NRF has introduced a new methodology.
The Retail Monitor uses anonymised credit and debit card transaction data compiled by Affinity Solutions. Under the updated methodology, the data is weighted to better reflect the US consumer population and projected to match total retail sales reported by the US Census Bureau.
The NRF has also introduced seasonal adjustment to its year-on-year comparisons.
This means the latest figures provide a new basis for assessing retail sales growth rather than a directly comparable continuation of the previous series.
More retail data to follow
The NRF said a fuller Retail Monitor release would launch in October.
The expanded release is expected to include more detailed information by retail sector, along with dollar sales values.
The additional data will provide a broader view of how different parts of the US retail market performed as consumers moved through the back-to-school shopping period and towards the final months of the year.
