U.S. retail sales growth eased in early March, according to the latest Redbook data, signaling a modest cooling in consumer spending momentum. The Redbook index, which tracks same-store sales at major U.S. retailers, showed a 6.2% year-over-year gain, down from 7.0% previously. The updated figures were released on 10 March 2026.
The data compares retail sales for the current month against the same month a year earlier, with the prior reading reflecting the change in the previous month versus its year-ago level. The slowdown from 7.0% to 6.2% year-over-year suggests that while consumer spending remains positive, the pace of growth is decelerating from earlier levels, a development investors and economists will watch closely for signs of shifting demand patterns in the U.S. economy.
