Released October 9, 2025
Retail sales dipped slightly in September following strong back-to-school spending, as consumers took a breather amid ongoing economic uncertainty. Despite the monthly slowdown, year-over-year growth remains strong, pointing to solid momentum heading into the holiday season, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor, powered by Affinity Solutions.
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.
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The Retail Monitor calculation of core retail sales was down 0.49% month over month in September but up 5.72% 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.
In September, most retail sectors posted strong year-over-year gains despite modest month-over-month declines.
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
