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

08:45 AM EDT, 10/15/2026 (MT Newswires) -- US retail sales rose by 0.8% in September, a larger increase than the 0.3% increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg and following the previous month's revised 1.3% gain. Excluding a 0.2% increase in motor vehicle sales, retail sales were up 0.9% compared with an expected 0.5% gain. That followed a 1.4% increase in August. Removing both motor vehicles and a 6.4% increase in gasoline station sales, retail sales were up 0.2% in September after a 1.1% increase in August. Sales at food services and drinking places were up 1.1% after a 1.4% increase in the previous month. There were also notable sales gains for health and personal care stores, furniture and home furnishing stores and department stores. 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.