U.S. retail sales growth strengthened in April 2026, with year-over-year activity rising 4.87%, up from a revised 3.97% in March 2026. The latest data, updated on 14 May 2026, indicate that consumer spending gained traction at the start of the second quarter, as Americans continued to increase purchases compared with the same period a year earlier.
Both the current and previous readings are calculated on a year-over-year basis, comparing each month’s sales to the corresponding month in the prior year. The acceleration from March to April suggests an improving retail backdrop, which is closely watched by investors and policymakers as a barometer of overall economic momentum in the United States.
