Released November 10, 2025
Retail sales strengthened in October as consumers prepared for the holidays. Total retail sales increased 0.6% from September and 5% year over year, while core retail sales showed similar gains of 0.6% month over month and 4.89% year over year.
The U.S. Census Bureau will not be releasing monthly retail sales data during the government shutdown. Explore data from the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor, powered by Affinity Solutions, for a comprehensive look at the latest retail sales performance.
Unlike Census Bureau estimates, the Retail Monitor is powered by real, anonymized credit and debit card transaction data, offering timely and reliable insights without the need for monthly or annual revisions.
Want to learn more about the Retail Monitor?
The Retail Monitor calculation of core retail sales was up 0.6% month over month in October and up 5% year over year.
Total retail sales excludes autos and gas to reduce volatility, offering a broad view of consumer spending.
Core retail sales exclude (in addition to auto and gas) restaurants, providing a clearer picture of demand for retail goods.
The Retail Monitor data offers a headline “month-over-month” look at retail sales performance as well as “year-over-year” figures for the following nine sectors:
Building & garden supply stores
Clothing & accessories stores
Digital products (e-books, games, etc.)
Electronics & appliance stores
Furniture & home furnishings stores
General merchandise stores
Grocery & beverage stores
Health & personal care stores
Sporting goods, hobby, music stores and book stores
Affinity Solutions (Affinity) is the leading consumer purchase insights company. We provide a complete view of U.S. and U.K. consumer spending, across and between brands, via exclusive access to fully permissioned data from over 150 million debit and credit cards. This data is transformed into privacy-compliant, actionable intelligence for marketers, consultancies, and financial services companies to drive strategic growth and lasting customer relationships. Visit us at affinitysolutions.com to discover how we’re shaping the future of consumer purchase insights.
NRF's Center for Retail and Consumer Insights (CRCI) is committed to innovation and progress through our content and insights. To learn more, visit our home page or email us at crci@nrf.com
