US retail sales rose 0.5% month-over-month in April 2026, matching market expectations, after a downwardly revised 1.6% increase in March. Gasoline stations posted the strongest gain (2.8%), driven by rising fuel prices amid the ongoing war with Iran. Retail sales figures are reported in nominal terms and are not adjusted for inflation. Excluding gasoline stations, sales were up 0.3%.
Other notable increases were recorded at sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, and book stores (1.4%); electronics and appliance stores (1.4%); nonstore retailers (1.1%); food and beverage stores (0.8%); food services and drinking places (0.6%); and miscellaneous retailers (0.3%).
On the downside, sales declined the most at furniture and home furnishings stores (-2.0%), followed by clothing and accessories retailers (-1.5%) and motor vehicle and parts dealers (-0.5%). Sales were unchanged at health and personal care stores.
Core retail sales—excluding food services, auto dealers, building materials stores, and gasoline stations, and used in the calculation of GDP—also increased 0.5% in April, after a 0.8% rise in March and above the consensus forecast of a 0.4% gain.
