Retail sales climbed for the ninth month in a row during June as positive factors overcame challenges to the economy, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor.
“The summer shopping season got off to a strong start in June,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said in a news release. “Consumers took advantage of summer sales events, and many got an early jump on back-to-school shopping. The willingness to spend on retail goods has been supported by the retail industry’s laser focus on affordability as well as a durable labor market. Year-over-year gains look particularly strong compared with a weak June 2025.”
Total retail sales, excluding automobile dealers and gasoline stations, were up 0.33% seasonally adjusted month over month and up 9.41% unadjusted year over year in June, according to the Retail Monitor. That compared with increases of 0.42% month over month and 7.19% year over year in May.
Top Product Categories in June
June sales were up across the board on a yearly basis, according to the Retail Monitor, led by sporting goods, electronics and clothing stores, and were up in all but two of nine categories on a monthly basis. Specifics from key sectors include:
- Sporting goods, hobby, music and book stores were up 0.45% month over month seasonally adjusted and up 18.53% year over year unadjusted.
- Electronics and appliance stores were down 0.01% month over month seasonally adjusted but up 14.16% year over year unadjusted.
- Clothing and accessories stores were up 0.63% month over month seasonally adjusted and up 13.65% year over year unadjusted.
- Digital products (such as electronic books and games) were up 1.25% month over month seasonally adjusted and up 13.56% year over year unadjusted.
- Health and personal care stores were up 0.5% month over month seasonally adjusted and up 12.87% year over year unadjusted.
- General merchandise stores were up 0.29% month over month seasonally adjusted and up 9.9% year over year unadjusted.
- Grocery and beverage stores were up 0.25% month over month seasonally adjusted and up 5.26% year over year unadjusted.
- Furniture and home furnishings stores were down 0.16% month over month seasonally adjusted but up 4.92% year over year unadjusted.
- Building and garden supply stores were up 0.06% month over month seasonally adjusted and up 4.04% year over year unadjusted.
