U.S. retail sales declined 0.2% month-over-month in January 2026, slipping into negative territory after flat growth at the end of last year. The latest data, updated on 6 March 2026, show that January’s reading followed a 0.0% change in December 2025, suggesting that consumer spending cooled as the new year began.
On a month-over-month basis, the “actual” figure measures how retail sales in January compared with December, while the “previous” figure reflects December’s performance versus November. With December already showing no growth and January turning negative, the data point to a softening in retail activity that could weigh on broader economic momentum if the trend persists.
For markets and policymakers, the back-to-back weak readings will be closely watched as an indicator of underlying consumer strength, a critical driver of U.S. economic performance. Investors may reassess expectations for corporate earnings tied to consumer demand, while economists will be looking to forthcoming releases to determine whether January’s decline marks the start of a more prolonged slowdown in spending or a temporary pause after the year-end period.
