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U.S. retail sales excluding auto dealers and gasoline stations totaled $560.8 billion in September, up 0.28% from August and 4.05% from a year earlier, according to the NRF’s CNBC Retail Monitor. Building and garden supply sales reached $44.0 billion, rising 0.07% month over month and 2.66% year over year. The data show continued growth, but the report also describes shoppers as budget-conscious amid higher gasoline prices.
U.S. retail sales increased for a 12th consecutive month in September, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor released October 8 by the National Retail Federation. Sales excluding auto dealers and gasoline stations reached $560.8 billion, up 0.28% from August and 4.05% from September 2025, while the report described consumers as continuing to spend despite pressure from higher gasoline prices.
The September monthly gain was slightly larger than the 0.22% increase recorded in August. Year-over-year growth also accelerated, reaching 4.05% in September compared with 3.87% in August. Both comparisons are seasonally adjusted, according to the Retail Monitor. The figures exclude automobile dealers and gasoline stations, so they do not represent all retail spending.
A narrower measure, which also excludes restaurants, put core retail sales at $453.1 billion. That measure rose 0.27% month over month and 3.73% year over year in September, compared with increases of 0.17% and 3.47%, respectively, in August. The Monitor’s core measure is distinct from its broader retail-sales total because it removes another category.
In the building and garden supply sector, September sales were $44.0 billion. They increased 0.07% from August and 2.66% from a year earlier. The source report did not provide a breakdown by product type, retailer, or geographic area.
Growth Continues as Budgets Tighten
The consecutive monthly increases indicate that retail spending, as measured by this monitor, continued to expand into September. The stronger monthly and annual growth rates compared with August offer retailers a current read on demand following the back-to-school shopping season. They do not, on their own, establish how spending is distributed across households or whether sales gains reflect higher prices, more purchases, or both.
The NRF’s account points to a tension for retailers: consumers are still spending, but the organization says many remain budget-conscious as gasoline takes a larger share of household budgets. NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said retailers were using promotions and value pricing to keep everyday products affordable. For businesses, including home and garden suppliers, the sector figures show modest monthly growth alongside a larger year-over-year gain, though the report does not explain the factors behind those changes.
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How September Compared With August
The September release follows a month in which the same measures also rose. In August, total retail sales excluding auto dealers and gasoline stations increased 0.22% from July and 3.87% from August 2025. The September figures were higher on both comparisons, marking continued growth rather than a reversal in the reported trend.
The report attributes its figures to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor, released by the National Retail Federation. The figures cited here are sales totals and percentage changes from that monitor; they should not be confused with other retail-sales series that may use different coverage or methods. The supplied report does not provide a methodology explanation or revisions to earlier results.
What the Sales Figures Cannot Show
The release does not identify how much of the sales growth came from higher prices versus increased purchase volumes, nor does it give results by household income or region. It also does not quantify the effect of gasoline prices on spending. Shay’s comments about budget-conscious shoppers and fuel costs are attributed statements from the NRF, not a detailed breakdown in the data presented.
The figures are specific to the Retail Monitor and its stated category exclusions. The supplied report does not describe the monitor’s methodology, provide confidence ranges, or say whether prior months’ estimates were revised. It also offers no forecast for October or the remainder of 2026, so September’s growth alone does not establish how sales will perform in coming months.
October Data Will Test the Trend
The next useful milestone will be the Retail Monitor’s report for October, which can show whether the monthly gains continued after September. Readers can compare its total and core measures with the September figures, while watching for any revisions or additional detail from the NRF. The source report gives no release date for the next update.
Until then, the confirmed figures show 12 consecutive months of growth in the monitor’s retail-sales measure and a modest monthly increase for building and garden supply sales. Whether consumers maintain that pace as household budgets face fuel costs remains unknown.
Key Questions
How much did retail sales rise in September?
Sales excluding auto dealers and gasoline stations totaled $560.8 billion, up 0.28% from August and 4.05% from September 2025, seasonally adjusted, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor.
What does the report mean by core retail sales?
The Monitor’s core measure excludes restaurants as well as auto dealers and gasoline stations. It totaled $453.1 billion in September, up 0.27% month over month and 3.73% year over year.
How did building and garden supply sales perform?
Sales in the building and garden supply sector were $44.0 billion in September, up 0.07% from August and 2.66% from a year earlier.
Does the report show that shoppers are buying more goods?
Not by itself. The release reports sales totals and percentage changes but does not separate price changes from purchase volumes. It also does not provide household-level data to measure how consumers are changing their shopping.
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