February US Retail Sales Rise More Than Expected, Ex-Auto Sales Up

08:48 AM EDT, 04/01/2026 (MT Newswires) -- US retail sales rose by 0.6% in February, more than the 0.5% increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg and following the previous month's revised decline of 0.1%.

Excluding a 1.2% increase in motor vehicle sales, retail sales were still up 0.5% compared with an expected 0.3% increase, after holding steady in January.

Removing both motor vehicles and a 0.9% increase in gasoline station sales, retail sales were 0.4% higher in January after a 0.2% gain in January.

Sales at food services and drinking places rose 0.4% after a 0.2% decline in the previous month. There were notable sales gains for

There were notable sales gains for clothing, healthcare, electronics, and building materials.

Control group sales, which exclude autos, building materials, gas and food services, rose by 0.4% after a 0.3% gain in the previous month.

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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