Retail control sales in the United States picked up in January 2026, rising 0.3% month-over-month after posting no growth in December 2025. The latest data, updated on 6 March 2026, show a modest but clear improvement in this key gauge of underlying consumer spending.
The “previous” indicator, measuring December’s change versus November 2025, was flat at 0.0%, indicating a pause in momentum at the end of last year. January’s “actual” figure, comparing activity to December 2025, suggests that retail demand regained some traction at the start of 2026.
Because the measure is reported on a month-over-month basis, the January increase points to a short-term strengthening in consumer activity relative to the year-end plateau, a development that will be closely watched by investors and policymakers monitoring the resilience of U.S. consumption.
