September retail sales rose faster than in August, with gasoline stations and restaurants providing much of the monthly lift. The U.S. Census Bureau said the figures are seasonally adjusted but not adjusted for price changes, an important distinction for investors reading the report alongside inflation data.

Gasoline and restaurants lead September retail sales

The Census Bureau’s October 15 release put September sales at $745.0 billion, compared with a revised $739.3 billion in August. Sales for July through September were 5.5% higher than in the same three-month period of 2025.

Gasoline-station sales jumped 6.4% from August and 28.1% from September 2025. Food services and drinking places rose 1.1% for the month and 7.0% from a year earlier, while nonstore retailers increased 0.3% monthly and 8.2% annually. Building-material and garden-supply dealers fell 0.6%, and general-merchandise stores slipped 0.1%.

September 2026 retail sales: month-over-month change

Gasoline stations+6.4%
Food services+1.1%
Total sales+0.8%
Nonstore retailers+0.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Advance Monthly Retail Trade Survey, released October 15, 2026. Bars are scaled to the largest positive change shown.

What the spending report means for markets

The report suggests consumers entered the fourth quarter with solid nominal spending momentum. Still, the gasoline surge means investors should compare the release with September inflation data before treating every dollar of growth as higher purchase volume.

The measure also covers sales rather than household income or corporate profit. It is best read with broader signals such as the Fed Beige Book and a basic understanding of how GDP measures economic activity. The Census Bureau’s full September report says the advance estimate comes from about 4,800 employer firms and remains subject to revision.

Elsy Kanana is a financial and cryptocurrency journalist at FusionMarketNews, covering digital assets, blockchain technology, financial markets, and emerging fintech trends. Her reporting focuses on market movements, regulatory developments, and on-chain analytics, delivering clear, data-driven insights to readers worldwide.