September Retail Sales Mark 12Th Month Of Steady Growth

TL;DR

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U.S. retail sales increased for a 12th consecutive month in September, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor. Sales excluding auto dealers and gas stations reached $560.8 billion, while building and garden supply sales totaled $44.0 billion. The report cites higher gasoline costs as pressure on household budgets, but does not quantify their effect on spending.

U.S. retail sales rose for a 12th consecutive month in September, with sales excluding auto dealers and gasoline stations reaching $560.8 billion, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor released October 8 by the National Retail Federation. The report also showed building and garden supply sales up 2.66% year over year, even as the NRF said higher gasoline prices were taking a larger share of household budgets.

September sales excluding auto dealers and gas stations increased 0.28% from August and 4.05% from September 2025, seasonally adjusted. Both growth rates were above those reported for August, when the same measure rose 0.22% month over month and 3.87% year over year.

The monitor’s core retail measure, which also excludes restaurants, came to $453.1 billion. Core sales increased 0.27% month over month and 3.73% year over year in September, compared with respective increases of 0.17% and 3.47% in August. These figures are seasonally adjusted, according to the report.

Sales in the building and garden supply sector were $44.0 billion, up 0.07% from August and 2.66% from a year earlier. The source provides the sector’s dollar total and growth rates but does not break out results by individual product category or retailer.

Household Budgets Meet Retail Growth

The report points to continued consumer spending, but the growth rates alone do not explain how households are managing higher costs. NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said consumers remain budget conscious and that gasoline prices are absorbing a larger share of family budgets. The monitor release does not quantify how much fuel costs changed spending or distinguish the effect across income groups.

For retailers, the figures offer a snapshot of demand heading into the fall selling period. The NRF says businesses are using promotions and value pricing to keep everyday products affordable. Building and garden suppliers may find the sector’s year-over-year gain relevant, but the modest monthly increase of 0.07% is a separate measure and does not establish a broader acceleration in that market.

How September Compares With August

The September release follows a reported solid back-to-school shopping season, which Shay cited as part of the recent spending picture. The retail monitor shows that both the total measure and the core measure posted higher month-over-month and year-over-year growth rates in September than in August.

The measures cover different parts of retail activity. The $560.8 billion total excludes auto dealers and gasoline stations; the $453.1 billion core figure also excludes restaurants. The building and garden supply result is a sector-specific figure within the report. These distinctions matter: the totals should not be treated as interchangeable, and the sector’s growth rate does not describe all retail sales.

What the Sales Data Cannot Show

The Retail Monitor figures establish the reported sales totals and percentage changes, but the release does not provide a detailed explanation for September’s gains. It does not isolate the effects of gasoline prices, inflation, wages, borrowing costs or back-to-school purchases, and it gives no breakdown by household income.

The figures also do not show whether growth came from higher quantities sold, higher prices, or a mix of both. The source does not provide forecasts, revisions to prior months, or results for individual companies. The reported 12-month run describes consecutive monthly increases, but the release does not say how long that pattern will continue.

Next Data on Consumer Spending

Further monthly Retail Monitor releases will show whether the sales gains continue and how the building and garden supply sector performs in subsequent reporting periods. The source material does not specify a date for the next release.

Readers should compare future figures using the same measure and time basis: total retail sales exclude auto dealers and gasoline stations, while core sales exclude restaurants as well. Additional data may help clarify whether consumer spending is holding up as household budgets face fuel costs, but September’s report alone does not settle that question.

Key Questions

How much did U.S. retail sales rise in September?

Sales excluding auto dealers and gasoline stations increased 0.28% month over month and 4.05% year over year, seasonally adjusted, to $560.8 billion.

What does the report mean by core retail sales?

The report’s core measure excludes auto dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants. It totaled $453.1 billion in September, up 0.27% from August and 3.73% from a year earlier.

How did building and garden supply sales perform?

The sector recorded $44.0 billion in sales, up 0.07% month over month and 2.66% year over year, according to the Retail Monitor.

Did higher gasoline prices reduce retail spending?

The NRF said higher gasoline prices were taking a larger share of household budgets, but the release does not measure how much fuel costs affected retail spending.

Does September’s report predict future sales?

No. It reports September results and comparisons with August and the previous year. It does not provide a forecast for future retail sales.

Source: rss