U.S. Retail Sales Rise 0.9% in May; Fourth Monthly Gain

The Census Bureau’s Advance Retail Sales Report showed U.S. retail sales rose 0.9% in May 2026 to $763.7 billion, marking the fourth consecutive monthly increase. The gain exceeded the 0.5% consensus and was 6.9% higher than May 2025. The figures are adjusted for seasonal variation and trading-day differences but not for price changes.

The report revised the March-to-April percent change to a 0.4% increase from a previously reported 0.5%. Total sales for the March–May 2026 period were 5.3% higher than the same three months a year earlier.

Retail trade sales increased 1.0% month over month and were up 7.5% from a year earlier. Core retail sales, which exclude motor vehicle sales, rose 0.8% in May — the twelfth straight monthly gain — and were 7.5% above year-ago levels, the largest annual increase since January 2023.

A narrower control measure that removes motor vehicles and parts, gasoline stations, building materials and food services and drinking places also rose 0.8% in May and was up 6.4% from May 2025, the strongest annual gain since February 2023. The headline series shows larger month-to-month swings than the control series.

Nonstore retailers were up 12.2% from May 2025. Food services and drinking places increased 2.7% year over year.

Historical charts and regression analysis in the report show monthly retail sales have remained above long-term trend lines since March 2021, a pattern the report links to spending that was likely pent-up because of the pandemic. For an inflation-adjusted perspective, the report points to a separate Real Retail Sales commentary.

Investors and market participants monitor retail sales data for insight into consumer activity and potential effects on retail-focused investments.