November US Retail Sales Rose Faster Than Expected, Ex-Auto Sales Accelerate

08:38 AM EST, 01/14/2026 (MT Newswires) -- US retail sales rose by 0.6% in November, a faster gain than the 0.5% increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg and following the previous month's 0.1% decline.

Excluding a 1% increase in motor vehicle sales, retail sales were still up 0.5% compared with an expected 0.4% gain. That followed a 0.2% gain in October.

Removing both motor vehicles and a 1.4% gain in gasoline station sales, retail sales were up 0.4% in November after a 0.4% increase in October. A 0.3% gain was expected.

Sales at food services and drinking places rose by 0.6% after a 0.1% decline in the previous month. There were also notable gains in sales of building materials, clothing, sporting goods and at miscellaneous store retailers. Department store sales and furniture store sales both declined.

The monthly retail sales report from the US Commerce Department measures spending on retail products and food, the largest portion of economic growth. The report covers spending on goods with a services report released later each month.

Investors watch the control group that excludes food services, autos, gasoline and building materials because it feeds directly into the GDP report measuring economic growth.

If the data shows a strong US economy, that's generally bullish for stocks and bearish for bonds.

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