January US Retail Sales Fall Less Than Expected, Ex-Auto Sales Held Steady

08:49 AM EST, 03/06/2026 (MT Newswires) -- US retail sales fell by 0.2% in January, a smaller than the 0.3% decrease expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg after it held steady in the previous month.

Excluding a 0.9% decrease in motor vehicle sales, retail sales held steady compared with an expected flat reading. That followed a flat reading in December.

Removing both motor vehicles and a 2.9% decline in gasoline station sales, retail sales were up 0.3% in January after a 0.1% increase in December. A 0.2% gain was expected.

Sales at food services and drinking places fell by 0.2% for a second straight month.

There were also notable sales declines for health and personal care, clothing and clothing accessories, sporting goods and electronics and appliances even as sales of furniture, groceries and building materials rose.

Control group retail sales, which exclude motor vehicles, gas, building materials, and food services, rose by 0.4% after a flat reading in December.

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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