Retail sales increased again in February, marking the fifth consecutive month of growth as consumer spending remained resilient despite winter weather and geopolitical uncertainty.
Core retail sales, excluding restaurants, auto dealers and gas stations, rose 0.28% month over month and 6.24% year over year in February, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor released Wednesday by the National Retail Federation. That compares with gains of 0.2% month over month and 5.72% year over year in January.
Total retail sales, including restaurants but excluding automobile dealers and gasoline stations, also increased 0.28% from January and 6.24% from a year earlier.
For the first two months of 2026, total sales were up 6.04% year over year, while core sales rose 5.76%.
Sales increased year over year in eight of the nine sectors tracked by the Retail Monitor, with building and garden supply stores the only category to decline.
Clothing and accessories stores posted the strongest growth, rising 0.66% month over month and 11.05% year over year.
Health and personal care stores climbed 0.5% from January and 9.33% year over year, while general merchandise stores increased 0.27% month over month and 7.77% annually.
Related Story
Other sectors saw mixed monthly performance. Grocery and beverage stores rose 0.3% month over month and 4.57% year over year, while sporting goods, hobby, music and book stores slipped 0.02% month over month but grew 6.53% year over year.
Electronics and appliance stores edged down 0.07% month over month while increasing 4.37% from a year earlier, and furniture and home furnishings stores fell 0.27% month over month but rose 3.07% annually.
Digital products such as e-books and games climbed 0.98% month over month and 2.36% year over year. Building and garden supply stores declined 0.25% month over month and 5.75% year over year.
Matthew Shay, president and CEO of the National Retail Federation, said spending remained strong even amid external pressures.
“Despite harsh winter weather, consumer spending grew once again in February, supported by continued wage gains and overall low unemployment levels,” Shay said.
“With renewed fighting in the Middle East and its impact on global economies, retailers remain heavily focused on delivering products at competitive prices to value-conscious consumers.”
Unlike the survey-based retail sales figures produced by the U.S. Census Bureau, the Retail Monitor uses anonymized credit and debit card transaction data compiled by Affinity Solutions and does not require monthly or annual revisions.
Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette‘s free daily email newsletter
