Retail sales excluding gasoline and autos in the United States rose 0.5% in May 2026 compared with April, matching the previous month’s pace and signaling steady underlying consumer spending momentum.
The unchanged month‑over‑month growth rate follows a 0.5% increase recorded in April 2026 versus March, according to data updated on 17 June 2026. Because this measure strips out typically volatile gasoline and auto sales, it is closely watched as an indicator of core consumer demand trends.
On a month-over-month basis, May’s reading suggests that consumer spending in key retail categories has neither accelerated nor cooled relative to April, maintaining a consistent growth profile into late spring.
