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U.S. retail sales excluding auto dealers and gasoline stations increased 0.28% in September from August and 4.05% from a year earlier, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor. It was the 12th consecutive month of growth, while building and garden supply sales reached $44.0 billion, up 2.66% year over year.
U.S. retail sales rose for the 12th consecutive month in September, increasing 0.28% from August and 4.05% from a year earlier, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor released October 8 by the National Retail Federation. Sales in building and garden supply stores totaled $44.0 billion, up 2.66% year over year, as shoppers faced pressure from higher gasoline prices.
Total retail sales, excluding automobile dealers and gasoline stations, were $560.8 billion in September. The figures were seasonally adjusted. The month-over-month increase followed a 0.22% rise in August, while the year-over-year gain was higher than August’s 3.87%.
The Monitor’s measure of core retail sales—which also excludes restaurants—reached $453.1 billion. Core sales increased 0.27% from August and 3.73% from September 2025, compared with gains of 0.17% and 3.47%, respectively, in August.
Within the building and garden supply sector, September sales were $44.0 billion, up 0.07% month over month and 2.66% year over year. The figures show continued annual growth in the category, but the small monthly gain indicates that the sector’s latest change was more modest than its year-over-year increase.
Growth Continues Despite Budget Pressure
The September figures offer a snapshot of consumer spending that remained positive while household budgets faced pressure from higher gasoline prices. The NRF said consumers were still spending after the back-to-school season, but were focusing on everyday necessities. That combination matters to retailers: sales can keep rising while shoppers remain selective about where they spend.
For building and garden suppliers, the reported 2.66% annual increase points to higher sales than a year earlier, while the 0.07% monthly rise shows little movement between August and September. The data do not identify what drove the sector’s change or distinguish the effects of price changes from the number of items sold, so they should not be read as a direct measure of unit demand.
The consecutive monthly increases are an indicator of continued retail growth, not proof that every household or retail category is doing equally well. The overall totals combine varied businesses and spending patterns, and the figures provided do not break down results by income group or household circumstances.
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How September Compares With August
The CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor tracks retail sales using transaction data and reports monthly and annual changes. The figures cited here exclude auto dealers and gasoline stations from total retail sales; its core measure also excludes restaurants. Those exclusions mean the two totals cover different sets of businesses and should not be treated as interchangeable.
September’s gains followed August increases in both measures. Total sales rose 0.22% month over month in August, while core sales gained 0.17%. Their September monthly increases were 0.28% and 0.27%, respectively. On an annual basis, total sales growth moved from 3.87% in August to 4.05% in September; core growth moved from 3.47% to 3.73%.
The report’s account of consumer conditions comes from NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay. He described shoppers as budget conscious and said higher fuel costs were taking a larger share of household budgets. The source material does not provide a separate measure of gasoline prices or a detailed breakdown of consumer spending by product.
What the Sales Totals Cannot Show
The figures establish that reported sales increased, but they do not show how much of the gains came from higher prices versus more purchases. The supplied report also does not provide a detailed account of spending by retail category beyond building and garden supplies, or data separating household groups by income.
The NRF’s comments about fuel costs, essentials and retailer pricing are attributed assessments; the sales totals alone do not establish how much each factor affected September’s results. The source material does not give a forecast for subsequent months, and September’s reported increase does not confirm that growth will continue at the same pace.
Watch for October Sales Data
The next useful comparison will be the subsequent month’s Retail Monitor results, which can show whether the September gains continued and how total and core sales changed. Readers can also compare the next building and garden supply figure with September’s $44.0 billion total and its 0.07% monthly rise.
Until those results are released, the confirmed picture is limited to September: sales rose on both monthly and annual comparisons, and the NRF described shoppers as cautious about household budgets. The report supplied no release date or forecast for the next update.
Key Questions
How much did retail sales rise in September?
Total retail sales excluding auto dealers and gasoline stations were $560.8 billion, up 0.28% from August and 4.05% from September 2025, seasonally adjusted.
What does the 12th month of growth mean?
The Retail Monitor reported an increase in retail sales for each of 12 consecutive months. It does not mean every store or category grew during that period.
How did building and garden supply sales perform?
The sector recorded $44.0 billion in September sales, up 0.07% from August and 2.66% from a year earlier.
What is core retail sales in this report?
The Retail Monitor’s core measure excludes auto dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants. It totaled $453.1 billion in September, up 0.27% month over month and 3.73% year over year.
Do the figures show that shoppers bought more goods?
Not by themselves. The reported sales values do not separate changes in prices from changes in the number of items purchased, so they cannot establish whether shoppers bought more units.
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