Core retail sales in the United States rose 0.5% month-over-month in February 2026, marking a clear rebound after a flat reading at 0.0% in January 2026. The fresh data, updated on 1 April 2026, show that consumer spending—excluding the most volatile retail components—regained momentum after pausing at the start of the year.
On a month-over-month basis, February’s increase indicates that underlying consumer demand strengthened compared with January, when growth had effectively stalled versus December. The comparison underscores a shift from a static spending environment to moderate expansion, suggesting that U.S. consumers resumed opening their wallets as the first quarter progressed.
The improvement in the February core retail sales figure, relative to the previous month, will be closely watched by analysts assessing the trajectory of domestic demand. As core measures strip out more erratic categories, the 0.5% gain provides a cleaner signal that the underlying retail sector is showing renewed activity after January’s standstill.
