U.S. Retail Sales Monthly Report: March 2026
Released April 14, 2026
Unlike Census Bureau estimates, the Retail Monitor is powered by real, anonymized credit and debit card transaction data, offering timely and reliable insights without the need for monthly or annual revisions.
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CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor Report March 2026
Core vs Total U.S. Retail Sales March 2026
The Retail Monitor calculation of core retail sales was up 0.41% month over month in March and up 7.05% year over year.
Total retail sales excludes autos and gas to reduce volatility, offering a broad view of consumer spending.
Core retail sales exclude (in addition to auto and gas) restaurants, providing a clearer picture of demand for retail goods.
U.S. Retail Sales Sector Level Data: March 2026
The Retail Monitor data offers a headline “month-over-month” look at retail sales performance as well as “year-over-year” figures for the following nine sectors:
Building & garden supply stores
Clothing & accessories stores
Digital products (e-books, games, etc.)
Electronics & appliance stores
Furniture & home furnishings stores
General merchandise stores
Grocery & beverage stores
Health & personal care stores
Sporting goods, hobby, music stores and book stores
Unlike Census Bureau estimates, the Retail Monitor is powered by real, anonymized credit and debit card transaction data, offering timely and reliable insights without the need for monthly or annual revisions.
Want to learn more about the Retail Monitor?
Browse NRF's retail sales insights
Dec 12, 2025
CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor’s November Data Shows Strong Year-Over-Year Growth in First Half of Holiday Season
Retail sales saw strong year-over-year growth in November, with the first half of the holiday shopping season putting results on track to meet NRF's spending forecast, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor, powered by Affinity Solutions.
Nov 10, 2025
CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor’s October Data Shows ‘Continued Momentum’ Going Into Holiday Season
Retail sales bounced back in October, showing both monthly and year-over-year gains heading into the holiday shopping season, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor, powered by Affinity Solutions.
Affinity Solutions (Affinity) is the leading consumer purchase insights company. We provide a complete view of U.S. and U.K. consumer spending, across and between brands, via exclusive access to fully permissioned data from over 150 million debit and credit cards. This data is transformed into privacy-compliant, actionable intelligence for marketers, consultancies, and financial services companies to drive strategic growth and lasting customer relationships. Visit us at affinitysolutions.com to discover how we’re shaping the future of consumer purchase insights.
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