Updated: 25-Nov-25 09:43 ET

September Retail Sales

Updated: 25-Nov-25 09:43 ET

Highlights

• Retail sales were up 0.2% month-over-month in September (Briefing.com consensus 0.4%) after increasing 0.6% in August.
• Excluding autos, retail sales were up 0.3%, as expected, following a downwardly revised 0.6% increase (from 0.7%) in August.

Key Factors

• Motor vehicle and parts dealer sales decreased 0.3% month-over-month following a 0.6% increase in August.
• Furniture and home furnishing store sales increased 0.6% month-over-month following a 2.0% decline in August.
• Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers sales rose 0.2% month-over-month following a 0.3% increase in August.
• Food and beverage store sales jumped 0.2% month-over-month following a 0.6% increase in August.
• Gasoline station sales increased 2.0% month-over-month after increasing 0.4% in August.
• Clothing and clothing accessories stores sales declined 0.7% month-over-month following a 1.0% increase in August.
• General merchandise store sales were up 0.1% month-over-month after increasing 0.1% in August.
• Nonstore retailer sales declined 0.7% month-over-month following a 1.6% increase in August.
• Food services and drinking store sales jumped 0.7% month-over-month after increasing 1.0% in August.

Big Picture

• The key takeaway is that gasoline station sales were a big driver of the monthly increase. Excluding gasoline station sales, retail sales were flat in September after increasing 0.6% in August, signaling a slowdown in consumer spending on goods.

Category	SEP	AUG	JUL	JUN	MAY
Retail Sales	0.2%	0.6%	0.6%	1.0%	-0.8%
Excluding Autos	0.3%	0.6%	0.4%	0.9%	-0.1%
Durable goods
Building Materials	0.2%	0.3%	-0.8%	1.4%	-2.7%
Autos/parts	-0.3%	0.6%	1.6%	1.2%	-3.8%
Furniture	0.6%	-2.0%	0.9%	0.1%	-0.5%
Nondurable goods
General Merchandise	0.1%	0.1%	0.3%	0.1%	-0.1%
Food	0.2%	0.6%	0.3%	0.8%	-0.6%
Gasoline stations	2.0%	0.4%	1.3%	0.7%	-0.7%
Clothing	-0.7%	1.0%	1.7%	1.4%	0.5%
e*retailing/non-store	-0.7%	1.6%	0.2%	1.3%	0.7%