WASHINGTON – U.S. retail sales rose for the 13th consecutive month in October, supported by Halloween spending and early holiday promotions, despite ongoing pressure from high gasoline prices, according to the latest CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor, released Wednesday by the National Retail Federation (NRF).
Total retail sales, excluding automobile dealers and gasoline stations, totaled $561.7 billion in October, up 0.15% from September and 3.57% from a year earlier. Both figures were seasonally adjusted.
The results followed September sales of $560.8 billion, up 0.28% month over month and 4.05% year over year.
“Retail sales edged higher in October as a strong Halloween season and early winter holiday promotions pulled demand forward,” NRF president and CEO Matthew Shay said. “Households are managing budgets carefully, timing purchases around special offers and sales events in order to stretch their dollars. Retailers continue to offer promotions and value pricing to keep everyday items and holiday gifts affordable.”
Core retail sales, which exclude restaurants, totaled $454.2 billion in October, up 0.26% from the previous month and 3.36% year over year. That compared with $453.1 billion in September, when core sales rose 0.27% month over month and 3.73% year over year.
For the first 10 months of 2026, total retail sales increased by 5.75%, while core sales grew by 5.63%.
Electronics and appliance retailers recorded the strongest year-over-year growth in October, with sales up 9.3%. Nearly all retail categories posted annual gains, while furniture and home furnishings declined 2.62% and sporting goods fell 0.44%.
The October report marks the second month using the Retail Monitor’s enhanced methodology, which incorporates transaction data from about 120 million debit and credit cards provided by Affinity Solutions. The data is weighted to reflect U.S. consumer spending and aligned with the Census Bureau’s retail sales totals.
The updated methodology also classifies online purchases from store-based retailers into their respective merchandise categories, offering a more complete view of omnichannel spending.
NRF said the revised methodology means the latest monthly and annual growth figures are not directly comparable with Retail Monitor reports published before September.
To learn more, visit nrf.com/nrf/cnbc-retail-monitor.
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