NRF: Retail sales grow in April

Article originally posted on HERE on May 15, 2026

Retail sales rose slightly for the seventh consecutive month in April despite rising gas prices and stubborn inflation.

Core retail sales (excluding restaurants, auto dealers and gas stations) inched up up 0.34% month over month in April and were up 5.53% year over year, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor, released by the National Retail Federation. That compared with increases of 0.41% month over month and 7.05% year over year in March.

Sales rose month over over month in April across all categories with the exception of furniture and home furnishings stores. Total retail sales (including restaurants, but excluding automobile dealers and gasoline stations) increased 0.34% month over month in April and were up 5.73% year over year in April, according to the Retail Monitor. That compared with increases of 0.4% month over month and 6.59% year over year in March.

For the first four months of the year, total sales were up 6.07% year over year. Core sales were up 5.99%.

Specifics from key retail sectors for April are below.

•Clothing and accessories stores were up 0.59% month over month and up 9.75% year over year.

•Sporting goods, hobby, music and book stores were up 0.12% month over month and up 8.55% year over year.

•Health and personal care stores were up 0.45% month over month and up 8.42% year over year.

•Digital products (such as electronic books and games) were up 1.11% month over month and up 8.09% year over year.

•General merchandise stores were up 0.15% month over month and up 6.19% year over year.

•Electronics and appliance stores were up 0.16% month over month and up 4.03% year over year.

•Grocery and beverage stores were up 0.36% month over month and up 3.21% year over year.

•Furniture and home furnishings stores were down 0.06% month over month but up 2.58% year over year.

•Building and garden supply stores were up 0.09% month over month but down 2.74% year over year.

Unlike survey-based numbers collected by the Census Bureau, the Retail Monitor uses actual, anonymized credit and debit card purchase data compiled by Affinity Solutions and does not need to be revised monthly or annually.