US retail sales rose 0.6% mom to USD 738.4B in February, beating expectations of 0.4% mom and pointing to resilient consumer demand. The strength was broad-based, with ex-auto sales rising 0.5% mom to USD 599.0B. Ex-gasoline sales also increased 0.6% mom to USD 686.0B. These figures indicate that underlying consumption momentum remains solid beyond volatile components such as autos and fuel.
On a yearly basis, headline sales rose 3.7% yoy, while total sales for the December 2025 through February 2026 period increased 3.1% from a year earlier. Retail trade sales were also up 0.6% mom from January and 3.5% yoy. The data supports the case for a still-resilient US economy, which could keep the Fed cautious on easing as solid demand persists.
