Retail sales eased in September following a busy summer, but year-over-year growth remained solid as retailers look ahead to the holiday season, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor powered by Affinity Solutions.
The report showed total retail sales, excluding automobiles and gasoline, declined 0.66 percent month over month but rose 5.42 percent compared with last year. Core retail sales, which also exclude restaurants, were down 0.49 percent month over month yet up 5.72 percent year over year.
National Retail Federation President and CEO Matthew Shay noted that consumers appeared to pause spending after strong back-to-school months, choosing to conserve resources ahead of the holidays. Despite short-term fluctuations, he said, continued year-over-year growth signals steady momentum for the retail sector.
September’s gains were widespread across most categories, led by digital products, sporting goods, and clothing stores. Digital products saw the largest year-over-year jump at 21.35 percent, while sporting goods rose 8.81 percent and clothing increased 7.35 percent.
For the first nine months of 2025, total retail sales were up 5.12 percent compared with the same period last year, with core sales rising 5.32 percent.
