Consumer Behavior

Retail sales climb once again

Adobe Stock

July 23, 2026

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Retail sales climbed for the ninth month in a row, according to a CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor report, as positive factors successfully battled again economy challenges.

The monitor report is powered by Affinity Solutions and was released by the National Retail Federation, according to a press release.

"The summer shopping season got off to a strong start in June," NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said in the release. "Consumers took advantage of summer sales events, and many got an early jump on back-to-school shopping. The willingness to spend on retail goods has been supported by the retail industry's laser focus on affordability as well as a durable labor market. Year-over-year gains look particularly strong compared with a weak June 2025."

Total retail sales, excluding automobile dealers and gasoline stations, were up 0.33% seasonally adjusted month over month and up 9.41% unadjusted year over year in June.
That compared with increases of 0.42% month over month and 7.19% year over year in May.

June sales were up across the board on a yearly basis, led by sporting goods, electronics and clothing stores, and were up in all but two of nine categories on a monthly basis.