Retail sales in the US rose 0.7% month-over-month in March 2024, following an upwardly revised 0.9% gain in February and much higher than forecasts of 0.3%, suggesting consumer spending remains robust. Eight out of 13 categories posted increases. Major increases were seen in sales at nonstore retailers (2.7%), gasoline stations (2.1%), miscellaneous store retailers (2.1%), and building materials and garden equipment (0.7%). Gains were also recorded at food and beverages stores (0.5%), health and personal care stores (0.4%) and food services and drinking places (0.4%). On the other hand, sales were down for sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, & book stores (-1.8%), clothing (-1.6%), electronics and appliances (-1.2%), general merchandise stores (-1.1%), autos (-0.9%) and furniture (-0.3%). Excluding food services, auto dealers, building materials stores and gasoline stations, the so-called core retail sales which are used to calculate GDP, jumped 1.1%. source: U.S. Census Bureau

Retail Sales in the United States increased 0.70 percent in March of 2024 over the previous month. Retail Sales MoM in the United States averaged 0.40 percent from 1992 until 2024, reaching an all time high of 19.00 percent in May of 2020 and a record low of -14.60 percent in April of 2020. This page provides - U.S. December Retail Sales Increased More Than Forecast - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. U.S. Retail Sales - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on April of 2024.

Retail Sales in the United States increased 0.70 percent in March of 2024 over the previous month. Retail Sales MoM in the United States is expected to be 0.60 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the U.S. Retail Sales is projected to trend around 0.50 percent in 2025 and 0.40 percent in 2026, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2024-03-14 12:30 PM
Retail Sales MoM
Feb 0.6% -1.1% 0.8% 0.5%
2024-04-15 12:30 PM
Retail Sales MoM
Mar 0.7% 0.9% 0.3% 0.4%
2024-05-15 12:30 PM
Retail Sales MoM
Apr 0.7%

Components Last Previous Unit Reference
Retail Sales Ex Autos MoM 1.10 0.60 percent Mar 2024
Retail Sales Ex Gas/Autos MoM 1.00 0.50 percent Mar 2024

Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Chain Store Sales 1701.00 4780.00 USD Million Jan 2024
Retail Sales MoM 0.70 0.90 percent Mar 2024
Retail Sales YoY 4.00 1.50 percent Mar 2024

U.S. Retail Sales
Retail sales report in the US provides aggregated measure of sales of retail goods and services over a period of a month. There are thirteen major types of retailers: Motor vehicle & parts dealers (around 20 percent of total sales), Food & beverage stores (13%), General merchandise stores (12.5%), Food services & drinking places (11%), Gasoline stations (10%), Nonstore retailers (9.2%), Building material & garden dealers (6%), Health & personal care stores (6%), Clothing & clothing accessories stores (5%), Miscellaneous store retailers (2.3%), Furniture stores (2%), Electronics & appliance stores (2%) and Sporting goods, hobby, book & music stores (1.7%).
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
0.70 0.90 19.00 -14.60 1992 - 2024 percent Monthly
Current Prices, SA

News Stream
US Retail Sales Surprise on the Upside
Retail sales in the US rose 0.7% month-over-month in March 2024, following an upwardly revised 0.9% gain in February and much higher than forecasts of 0.3%, suggesting consumer spending remains robust. Eight out of 13 categories posted increases. Major increases were seen in sales at nonstore retailers (2.7%), gasoline stations (2.1%), miscellaneous store retailers (2.1%), and building materials and garden equipment (0.7%). Gains were also recorded at food and beverages stores (0.5%), health and personal care stores (0.4%) and food services and drinking places (0.4%). On the other hand, sales were down for sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, & book stores (-1.8%), clothing (-1.6%), electronics and appliances (-1.2%), general merchandise stores (-1.1%), autos (-0.9%) and furniture (-0.3%). Excluding food services, auto dealers, building materials stores and gasoline stations, the so-called core retail sales which are used to calculate GDP, jumped 1.1%.
2024-04-15
US Retail Sales Rise Less than Expected
Retail sales in the US were up 0.6% month-over-month in February 2024, following an upwardly revised 1.1% fall in January and below market forecasts of a 0.8% gain. The relatively modest increase, combined with a larger decline in January, suggests a potential slowdown in consumer spending. Biggest increases were seen in sales at building materials and garden equipment (2.2%), motor vehicles and part dealers (1.6%) and electronics appliance stores (1.5%). Also, sales at gasoline stations rose 0.9% and other increases were seen at miscellaneous store retailers (0.6%), food services and drinking places (0.4%), general merchandise stores (0.4%) and food and beverages stores (0.1%). On the other hand, a decline was recorded in sales at furniture stores (-1.1%), clothing (-0.5%), health (-0.3%) and nonstore retailers (-0.1%). Excluding food services, auto dealers, building materials stores and gasoline stations, the so-called core retail sales which are used to calculate GDP, were flat.
2024-03-14
US Retail Sales Fall More than Expected
Retail sales in the US shrank 0.8% month-over-month in January 2024, reversing from a downwardly revised 0.4% rise in December, and worse than market forecasts of a 0.1% fall. It is the biggest decrease in retail sales since March last year, primarily driven by the aftermath of the holiday shopping season and cold weather. Sales at building materials and garden equipment (-4.1%), miscellaneous store retailers (-3%), gasoline stations (-1.7%), motor vehicles and parts (-1.7%) recorded the biggest declines. Sales were also lower at health and personal care stores (-1.1%), nonstore retailers (-0.8%), electronic and appliance stores (-0.4%), clothing (-0.2%) and sporting goods, hobby, musical instruments and books (-0.2%). In contrast, sales were up 1.5% at furniture stores, 0.7% at food services and drinking places, food and beverage stores (0.1%) and flattened at general merchandise stores. Retail sales are adjusted for seasonality but not for price changes.
2024-02-15