U.S. retail control sales strengthened in February 2026, rising 0.5% month-over-month, up from a 0.3% gain in January. The latest data, updated as of 1 April 2026, indicate a pickup in underlying consumer spending after a more modest increase at the start of the year.
The “retail control” measure—often watched as a key input into consumer spending estimates—shows that February’s growth outpaced the previous month’s change, when January 2026 sales rose 0.3% from December. On a month-over-month basis, the improvement suggests that U.S. consumers maintained and modestly increased their spending momentum as winter progressed.
With the comparison based on monthly changes, the February figure highlights a steady, if not spectacular, expansion in demand across key retail categories. While broader implications will depend on subsequent releases, the step-up from January’s pace points to a slightly firmer backdrop for consumption heading into the spring.
