The latest Redbook index data show an acceleration in U.S. retail sales growth, signaling firmer consumer spending momentum early in 2026. According to figures updated on 18 February 2026, the year-over-year increase in the Redbook index rose to 7.2%, up from 6.5% previously.
The Redbook index measures same-store sales growth at large U.S. retailers and compares current performance to the same month a year earlier. The current reading indicates that retailers, on average, are seeing stronger sales than they did at this time last year, and that the pace of growth has picked up compared with the prior month’s year-over-year gain. This uptick suggests that consumer demand has remained resilient, with retail spending showing solid growth against last year’s levels.
