Retail Sales Statistics 2026
This page collects 54 figures on retail sales: US monthly and quarterly sales totals, the split between store and online sales, retail employment and layoffs, store openings and closures, and retail sales in the UK, the euro area, Canada, China and Australia. Most figures describe 2026, with a few 2022 structural figures on retail jobs. They come from statistical agencies (the Census Bureau, BEA, the ONS, Eurostat, Statistics Canada, the National Bureau of Statistics of China and the ABS), trade bodies that publish their own data (NRF and the British Retail Consortium), and firms that track retail directly: Coresight Research, Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Placer.ai, Adobe and the Centre for Retail Research.
By the Comredix review desk · Updated November 13, 2026 · 54 numbers drawn from 19 publishers and reports
Short answer
US retail and food services sales were $745.0 billion in September 2026, up 6.3% from a year earlier, according to the Census Bureau, and e-commerce made up 17.1% of retail sales in the second quarter of 2026 while growing 12.2% a year against 6.7% for all retail. NRF forecasts 2026 US retail sales of $5.6 trillion, up 4.4%, and Coresight Research calculates that store openings and closures announced through October add 28.1 million net square feet of US retail space.
Headline numbers
- $745.0 billionUS retail and food services sales were an estimated $745.0 billion in September 2026, up 0.8% from August and 6.3% from September 2025, according to the Census Bureau.U.S. Census Bureau
- $5.6 trillionNRF forecast that US retail sales would grow 4.4% in 2026 to $5.6 trillion, under its core definition.National Retail Federation
- 12.2%US e-commerce sales grew 12.2% from the second quarter of 2025 to the second quarter of 2026, while total retail sales grew 6.7%.U.S. Census Bureau
- 17.1%E-commerce accounted for 17.1% of US retail sales in the second quarter of 2026 on a seasonally adjusted basis.U.S. Census Bureau
- 18,126US retailers announced 18,126 job cuts from January to October 2026, down 80% from 88,664 in the same period of 2025.Challenger, Gray & Christmas
- 28.1 MillionStore closure and opening announcements add a net 28.1 million square feet of US retail space in 2026 as of October, Coresight Research calculates.Coresight Research
- 28.8%Online sales made up 28.8% of Great Britain retail sales in September 2026, down from 28.9% in August.Office for National Statistics
- 37,000.1 billion yuanChina's total retail sales of consumer goods reached 37,000.1 billion yuan from January to September 2026, up 1.1% year on year.National Bureau of Statistics of China
Reading the numbers
US retail sales are growing in dollars at a pace well above inflation-free volume growth. The Census Bureau puts retail and food services sales at $745.0 billion in September 2026, 6.3% above a year earlier, and sales for the third quarter were up 5.5%. NRF forecast 4.4% growth for 2026 under its narrower core definition, and the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor showed core sales up 3.36% a year in October, so the pace depends on what is counted. BEA data show goods spending rising far less than services spending in September.
Online sales keep taking share without stores shrinking. Census estimates e-commerce at $340.2 billion in the second quarter of 2026, 17.1% of retail sales, growing 12.2% a year against 6.7% for all retail. Adobe expects $275.1 billion in US online holiday sales, yet Placer.ai found visits up 5.8% at open-air centers and 4.1% at indoor malls in October. In Great Britain the ONS online share is 28.8%, while BRC finds 38.3% of non-food items bought online. Canada's online share is far lower at 7.6%.
Retail employment is steady but cautious. PwC research for NRF counts 32.2 million direct US retail jobs, and Challenger, Gray & Christmas counts 18,126 announced retail job cuts through October 2026, down 80% from 2025, even though October had the most cuts since June 2025. NRF expects 325,000 to 375,000 seasonal hires, and Amazon alone announced 300,000. Canadian retail payrolls slipped by 4,400 in August after a spring gain of 24,000.
Store closures are concentrated in a handful of chains. Coresight Research headlines track Amazon Fresh, Cato with 120 closures and Leslie's with 76, yet net retail space is rising by 28.1 million square feet because new stores are larger. Outside the US, Eurostat finds euro area volumes down 0.7% in September, China's retail sales grew only 1.1% in the first nine months, with brand-exclusive store sales down 10.3%, and Australian household spending rose 0.6% in September.
US retail sales totals
- 1.
US retail and food services sales were an estimated $745.0 billion in September 2026, up 0.8% from August and 6.3% from September 2025, according to the Census Bureau.
U.S. Census Bureau, Advance Monthly Sales for Retail and Food Services, September 2026 (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for September 2026, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $745.0 billion, up 0.8 percent (±0.4 percent) from the previous month, and up 6.3 percent (±0.5 percent) from September 2025.
- 2.
US retail and food services sales for July to September 2026 were 5.5% higher than in the same three months of 2025.
U.S. Census Bureau, Advance Monthly Sales for Retail and Food Services, September 2026 (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Total sales for the July 2026 through September 2026 period were up 5.5 percent (±0.5 percent) from the same period a year ago.
- 3.
Total US retail sales reached an estimated $1,986.5 billion in the second quarter of 2026, seasonally adjusted, up 2.9% from the first quarter.
U.S. Census Bureau, Quarterly Retail E-Commerce Sales, 2nd Quarter 2026 (Aug 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Total retail sales for the second quarter of 2026 were estimated at $1,986.5 billion, an increase of 2.9 percent (±0.2 percent) from the first quarter of 2026.
- 4.
The Census Bureau's monthly retail estimates are weighted to represent more than three million US retail and food services firms.
U.S. Census Bureau, Advance Monthly Sales for Retail and Food Services, September 2026 (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
A stratified random sampling method is used to select approximately 4,800 retail and food services firms whose sales are then weighted and benchmarked to represent the complete universe of over three million retail and food services firms.
- 5.
NRF forecast that US retail sales would grow 4.4% in 2026 to $5.6 trillion, under its core definition.
National Retail Federation, NRF Forecasts 4.4% Annual Retail Sales Growth With New Economic Model (Mar 2026)
Exact wording at the source
WASHINGTON – The National Retail Federation today forecast that retail sales in 2026 will grow by 4.4% over 2025 to $5.6 trillion, based on a newly enhanced forecasting approach developed in partnership with Oxford Economics, one of the world’s leading independent economic advisory firms.
- 6.
NRF compares its 2026 forecast with average annual retail sales growth of 3.6% over the last 10 years, excluding 2020 to 2022.
National Retail Federation, NRF Forecasts 4.4% Annual Retail Sales Growth With New Economic Model (Mar 2026)
Exact wording at the source
The 2026 sales forecast compares with 3.6% average annual sales growth over the last 10 years, excluding the pandemic period from 2020 to 2022 when growth was atypical.
- 7.
The CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor put US core retail sales at $454.2 billion in October 2026, up 3.36% from October 2025.
National Retail Federation, CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor: Retail Sales Monthly Report, October 2026 (Nov 2026)
Exact wording at the source
The Retail Monitor calculation of core retail sales was $454.2 billion in October, up 0.26% month over month and up 3.36% year over year.
- 8.
US consumer spending on goods rose $35.1 billion in September 2026, while services spending rose $78.1 billion, according to BEA.
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Personal Income and Outlays, September 2026 (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
The $113.1 billion increase in current-dollar PCE in September reflected increases of $35.1 billion in spending on goods and $78.1 billion in spending on services.
Store versus online sales in the US
- 9.
US retail e-commerce sales were an estimated $340.2 billion in the second quarter of 2026, seasonally adjusted, up 3.8% from the first quarter.
U.S. Census Bureau, Quarterly Retail E-Commerce Sales, 2nd Quarter 2026 (Aug 2026)
Exact wording at the source
The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that the estimate of U.S. retail e-commerce sales for the second quarter of 2026, adjusted for seasonal variation, but not for price changes, was $340.2 billion, an increase of 3.8 percent (±0.4 percent) from the first quarter of 2026.
- 10.
US e-commerce sales grew 12.2% from the second quarter of 2025 to the second quarter of 2026, while total retail sales grew 6.7%.
U.S. Census Bureau, Quarterly Retail E-Commerce Sales, 2nd Quarter 2026 (Aug 2026)
Exact wording at the source
The second quarter 2026 e-commerce estimate increased 12.2 percent (±0.9 percent) from the second quarter of 2025 while total retail sales increased 6.7 percent (±0.5 percent) in the same period.
- 11.
E-commerce accounted for 17.1% of US retail sales in the second quarter of 2026 on a seasonally adjusted basis.
U.S. Census Bureau, Quarterly Retail E-Commerce Sales, 2nd Quarter 2026 (Aug 2026)
Exact wording at the source
E-commerce sales in the second quarter of 2026 accounted for 17.1 percent of total sales.
- 12.
Before seasonal adjustment, US e-commerce sales totaled $329.5 billion in the second quarter of 2026.
U.S. Census Bureau, Quarterly Retail E-Commerce Sales, 2nd Quarter 2026 (Aug 2026)
Exact wording at the source
On a not adjusted basis, the estimate of U.S. retail e-commerce sales for the second quarter of 2026 totaled $329.5 billion, a increase of 9.4 percent (±0.4 percent) from the first quarter of 2026.
- 13.
Adobe forecasts US online spending of $275.1 billion for the November and December 2026 holiday season, up 6.7% from 2025.
Adobe, Adobe: U.S. Holiday Shopping Season to Hit Record $275.1 Billion Online, Rising 6.7% YoY (Sep 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Adobe expects U.S. online sales to hit $275.1 billion this holiday season (Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, 2026), growing 6.7% year-over-year (YoY).
- 14.
Adobe expects Cyber Week 2026 to generate $47.5 billion in US online sales, 17.3% of the holiday season total.
Adobe, Adobe: U.S. Holiday Shopping Season to Hit Record $275.1 Billion Online, Rising 6.7% YoY (Sep 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Cyber Week (the five-day period between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday) is set to drive $47.5 billion online (up 7.4% YoY), representing 17.3% of the full holiday season spend.
- 15.
Adobe projects that mobile devices will account for 57.4% of US online holiday spending in 2026, up from 56.4% in 2025.
Adobe, Adobe: U.S. Holiday Shopping Season to Hit Record $275.1 Billion Online, Rising 6.7% YoY (Sep 2026)
Exact wording at the source
outpacing the full season where mobile will account for 57.4% of overall spend (up from 56.4% in 2025).
- 16.
Visits to US open-air shopping centers rose 5.8% year over year in October 2026, compared with 4.1% at indoor malls and 3.6% at outlets, according to Placer.ai.
Placer.ai, Placer.ai October 2026 Mall Index: Resilience Into the Holidays (Nov 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Once again, open-air shopping centers led the pack – with visits up 5.8%, compared with 4.1% at indoor malls and 3.6% at outlet malls.
- 17.
Placer.ai's mall index covers 300 US centers: 100 indoor malls, 100 open-air centers and 100 outlet malls.
Placer.ai, Placer.ai October 2026 Mall Index: Resilience Into the Holidays (Nov 2026)
Exact wording at the source
About the Mall Index: The Index analyzes data from 100 top-tier indoor malls, 100 open-air shopping centers (not including outlet malls) and 100 outlet malls across the country, in both urban and suburban areas.
Chart
Year-over-year change in US mall visits by format, October 2026
Placer.ai foot traffic for 100 centers in each format, October 2026 versus October 2025.
- Open-air centers5.8%
- Indoor malls4.1%
- Outlet malls3.6%
Source: Placer.ai, Placer.ai October 2026 Mall Index: Resilience Into the Holidays
Retail employment
- 18.
Retail directly provides 32.2 million US jobs, according to research prepared by PwC for NRF using 2022 data.
National Retail Federation, How retail contributes to the U.S. economy (Nov 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Retail directly provides 32.2 million jobs and supports 55 million jobs overall, according to research prepared by PwC for the National Retail Federation.
- 19.
Including jobs supported in other industries, retail supported 55 million US jobs and $5.3 trillion of GDP in 2022.
National Retail Federation, How retail contributes to the U.S. economy (Nov 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Retail supported 55 million jobs and $5.3 trillion in U.S. gross domestic product in 2022, according to research prepared by PwC for the National Retail Federation.
- 20.
Firms with fewer than 50 employees make up 98.6% of US retail firms, according to PwC research for NRF.
National Retail Federation, How retail contributes to the U.S. economy (Nov 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Retail firms with fewer than 50 employees account for 98.6% of all retail firms, according to research prepared by PwC for the National Retail Federation.
- 21.
Small retail firms with fewer than 50 employees account for 40.1% of US retail employment.
National Retail Federation, How retail contributes to the U.S. economy (Nov 2026)
Exact wording at the source
That group includes businesses without paid employees and accounts for 40.1% of retail employment.
- 22.
NRF expects US retailers to hire between 325,000 and 375,000 seasonal workers for the 2026 holidays, compared with about 356,000 in 2025.
National Retail Federation, NRF Forecasts 2026 Holiday Sales Growth as Consumers Remain Resilient (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
NRF expects retailers to hire between 325,000 and 375,000 seasonal workers, in line with last year’s estimated 356,000 seasonal jobs.
- 23.
US retailers announced 3,692 job cuts in October 2026, the most for the sector since June 2025, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas.
Challenger, Gray & Christmas, October Layoffs at Three-Year Low; Seasonal Hiring Plans Up 26% (Nov 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Retailers announced 3,692 job cuts in October, the most for the sector since June 2025, when 4,063 cuts were announced.
- 24.
US retailers announced 18,126 job cuts from January to October 2026, down 80% from 88,664 in the same period of 2025.
Challenger, Gray & Christmas, October Layoffs at Three-Year Low; Seasonal Hiring Plans Up 26% (Nov 2026)
Exact wording at the source
For the year, Retail has announced 18,126 cuts, down 80% from the 88,664 announced through October 2025.
- 25.
US retailers announced plans to hire 13,300 workers in October 2026, according to Challenger.
Challenger, Gray & Christmas, October Layoffs at Three-Year Low; Seasonal Hiring Plans Up 26% (Nov 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Retailers also announced 13,300 hiring plans in October.
- 26.
Amazon announced plans for 300,000 seasonal hires for the 2026 holidays, the largest single seasonal hiring announcement Challenger has tracked.
Challenger, Gray & Christmas, October Layoffs at Three-Year Low; Seasonal Hiring Plans Up 26% (Nov 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Amazon led seasonal announcements with plans to hire 300,000 workers, 50,000 more than the 250,000 the company announced in each of the previous three years.
- 27.
Canadian payroll employment in retail trade fell by 4,400 in August 2026, according to Statistics Canada.
Statistics Canada, Payroll employment, earnings and hours, and job vacancies, August 2026 (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Payroll employment in retail trade decreased by 4,400
- 28.
Canadian retail payrolls rose by a cumulative 24,000 from February to May 2026 before leveling off.
Statistics Canada, Payroll employment, earnings and hours, and job vacancies, August 2026 (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
following little net change from May to July and a cumulative increase of 24,000 (+1.2%) recorded from February to May.
Store openings and closures
- 29.
Store closure and opening announcements add a net 28.1 million square feet of US retail space in 2026 as of October, Coresight Research calculates.
Coresight Research, Coresight Research Store Trackers (Nov 2026)
Exact wording at the source
In October 2026, Store Closure and Opening Announcements take Total Net Retail Space to 28.1 Million Additional Square Feet, Coresight Research calculates.
- 30.
As of April 2026, Coresight Research tracked more than 30 million square feet of US retail space set to close during the year.
Coresight Research, Coresight Research Store Trackers (Nov 2026)
Exact wording at the source
US Store Tracker Extra, April 2026: 30+ Million Square Feet of Retail Space To Close This Year
- 31.
US store closures announced in 2026 passed 2,000 by early February, according to Coresight Research.
Coresight Research, Coresight Research Store Trackers (Nov 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Weekly US Store Openings and Closures Tracker 2026, Week 6: US Store Closures Cross 2,000
- 32.
Amazon's decision to close all Amazon Fresh stores pushed tracked US closures up by about 1,000 in a single week in January 2026.
Coresight Research, Coresight Research Store Trackers (Nov 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Weekly US Store Openings and Closures Tracker 2026, Week 4: Amazon To Close All Amazon Fresh Stores as Total Closures Surge by 1,000
- 33.
Apparel retailer Cato announced plans to close 120 US stores in 2026.
Coresight Research, Coresight Research Store Trackers (Nov 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Weekly US Store Openings and Closures Tracker 2026, Week 39: Cato To Close 120 Stores
- 34.
Pool supplies retailer Leslie's filed for Chapter 11 in October 2026 and plans to close 76 stores.
Coresight Research, Coresight Research Store Trackers (Nov 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Weekly US Store Openings and Closures Tracker 2026, Week 40: Leslie’s Files for Chapter 11 and Plans To Close 76 Stores
- 35.
UK store closures tracked by Coresight Research in mid-June 2026 were 31% higher than a year earlier.
Coresight Research, Coresight Research Store Trackers (Nov 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Weekly UK Store Openings and Closures Tracker 2026, Week 24: Closures Up 31% Year Over Year
- 36.
UK discount clothing chain The Original Factory Shop had 122 stores and 1,200 employees when it entered administration in January 2026, according to the Centre for Retail Research.
Centre for Retail Research, Who's Gone Bust in Retail? (2026)
Exact wording at the source
The Original Factory Shop , acquired by Modella in 2025 had 1,200 employees and 122 stores, before going into adminstration in January 2026.
- 37.
Sales at Chinese brand-exclusive stores above the designated size fell 10.3% in January to September 2026, while convenience store sales rose 5.2%.
National Bureau of Statistics of China, Total Retail Sales of Consumer Goods from January to September 2026 (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
By retail format, from January to September 2026, the retail sales of convenience stores and supermarkets among retail enterprises (units) above the designated size increased by 5.2% and 4.1% year on year, respectively; those of specialty stores, department stores and brand-exclusive stores decreased by 2.2%, 2.9% and 10.3%, respectively.
Chart
Change in China retail sales by store format, January to September 2026
Year-on-year change for retail enterprises above the designated size, National Bureau of Statistics of China.
- Convenience stores5.2%
- Supermarkets4.1%
- Specialty stores-2.2%
- Department stores-2.9%
- Brand-exclusive stores-10.3%
Source: National Bureau of Statistics of China, Total Retail Sales of Consumer Goods from January to September 2026
UK and European retail sales
- 38.
Great Britain retail sales volumes rose an estimated 0.7% in the third quarter of 2026 compared with the second quarter, according to the ONS.
Office for National Statistics, Retail sales, Great Britain: September 2026 (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
The quantity of goods bought (volume) in retail sales is estimated to have risen by 0.7% in Quarter 3 (July to Sept) 2026, compared with Quarter 2 (Apr to June) 2026.
- 39.
Great Britain retail sales volumes fell an estimated 0.4% in September 2026 after a 0.7% rise in August.
Office for National Statistics, Retail sales, Great Britain: September 2026 (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Retail sales volumes are estimated to have fallen by 0.4% in September 2026.
- 40.
Online sales made up 28.8% of Great Britain retail sales in September 2026, down from 28.9% in August.
Office for National Statistics, Retail sales, Great Britain: September 2026 (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
As a result, the proportion of sales made online fell from 28.9% in August 2026 to 28.8% in September 2026.
- 41.
Great Britain online spending values in the third quarter of 2026 were 7.4% higher than a year earlier.
Office for National Statistics, Retail sales, Great Britain: September 2026 (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Online spending values rose by 7.4% compared with Quarter 3 2025.
- 42.
UK total retail sales rose 1.3% year on year in September 2026, below the 12-month average of 1.5%, according to the BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor.
British Retail Consortium, Sluggish sales as shoppers look for Budget boost (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
UK Total retail sales increased by 1.3% year on year in September, against a growth of 2.3% in September 2025.
- 43.
UK in-store non-food sales rose just 0.1% year on year in September 2026.
British Retail Consortium, Sluggish sales as shoppers look for Budget boost (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
In-Store Non-Food sales increased by 0.1% year on year in September, against a growth of 0.5% in September 2025.
- 44.
38.3% of UK non-food items were bought online in September 2026, up from 37.9% a year earlier, according to the BRC.
British Retail Consortium, Sluggish sales as shoppers look for Budget boost (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
The online penetration rate (the proportion of Non-Food items bought online) increased to 38.3% in September from 37.9% in September 2025.
- 45.
Euro area retail trade volume fell 0.7% in September 2026 from August, and EU volume fell 0.6%, according to Eurostat.
Eurostat, Volume of retail trade down by 0.7% in the euro area and by 0.6% in the EU (Nov 2026)
Exact wording at the source
In September 2026, compared with August 2026, the seasonally adjusted retail trade volume decreased by 0.7% in the euro area and by 0.6% in the EU , according to first estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union .
- 46.
Euro area retail sales volume in September 2026 was 0.4% higher than a year earlier, and EU volume was 0.9% higher.
Eurostat, Volume of retail trade down by 0.7% in the euro area and by 0.6% in the EU (Nov 2026)
Exact wording at the source
In September 2026, compared with September 2025, the calendar adjusted retail sales index increased by 0.4% in the euro area and by 0.9% in the EU .
Chart
Annual change in retail trade volume, selected EU countries, September 2026
Calendar adjusted retail trade volume, September 2026 versus September 2025, Eurostat first estimates.
- Cyprus7.6%
- Sweden6.9%
- Bulgaria5.7%
- Spain-1.5%
- Romania-2.3%
- Germany-2.4%
Source: Eurostat, Volume of retail trade down by 0.7% in the euro area and by 0.6% in the EU
Canada, China and Australia
- 47.
Canadian retail sales rose 1.2% to $74.6 billion in August 2026, according to Statistics Canada.
Statistics Canada, Retail trade, August 2026 (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Retail sales increased 1.2% to $74.6 billion in August.
- 48.
Canadian core retail sales, which exclude gas stations and auto dealers, rose 1.1% in August 2026.
Statistics Canada, Retail trade, August 2026 (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Core retail sales, which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers, were up 1.1% in August.
- 49.
Canadian retail e-commerce sales were $5.6 billion in August 2026, 7.6% of total retail trade.
Statistics Canada, Retail trade, August 2026 (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
On a seasonally adjusted basis, retail e-commerce sales increased 1.1% to $5.6 billion in August, accounting for 7.6% of total retail trade.
- 50.
Statistics Canada's advance estimate suggests Canadian retail sales rose 0.7% in September 2026.
Statistics Canada, Retail trade, August 2026 (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Statistics Canada is providing an advance estimate of retail sales, which suggests that sales increased 0.7% in September.
- 51.
China's total retail sales of consumer goods reached 37,000.1 billion yuan from January to September 2026, up 1.1% year on year.
National Bureau of Statistics of China, Total Retail Sales of Consumer Goods from January to September 2026 (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
From January to September 2026, the total retail sales of consumer goods reached 37,000.1 billion yuan, up by 1.1% year on year.
- 52.
China's online retail sales of goods and services reached 15,147.1 billion yuan from January to September 2026, up 4.4%.
National Bureau of Statistics of China, Total Retail Sales of Consumer Goods from January to September 2026 (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
From January to September 2026, China’s online retail sales of goods and services reached 15,147.1 billion yuan, up by 4.4% year on year.
- 53.
China's retail sales of consumer goods were 4,243.3 billion yuan in September 2026, up 1.1% year on year.
National Bureau of Statistics of China, Total Retail Sales of Consumer Goods from January to September 2026 (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
In September, the total retail sales of consumer goods reached 4,243.3 billion yuan, up by 1.1% year on year.
- 54.
Australian household spending rose 0.6% in September 2026 at current prices, seasonally adjusted, according to the ABS.
Australian Bureau of Statistics, Monthly Household Spending Indicator, September 2026 (Nov 2026)
Exact wording at the source
In September 2026, household spending: rose 0.6% month-on-month on a current price, seasonally adjusted basis.
Questions readers ask
- How much do US retail sales total each month?
- The Census Bureau estimates US retail and food services sales at $745.0 billion in September 2026, up 0.8% from August and 6.3% from a year earlier. For a full quarter, total retail sales were about $1,986.5 billion in the second quarter of 2026.
- What share of US retail sales happens online?
- E-commerce accounted for 17.1% of US retail sales in the second quarter of 2026, according to the Census Bureau, with online sales of $340.2 billion. Online sales grew 12.2% from a year earlier while total retail grew 6.7%.
- How much will US retail sales grow in 2026?
- NRF forecast in March 2026 that retail sales would grow 4.4% to $5.6 trillion, above its 3.6% average for the prior decade. Census data for July to September 2026 show sales up 5.5% on a broader definition that includes autos, gas and restaurants.
- How many people work in retail?
- PwC research for NRF counts 32.2 million direct US retail jobs and 55 million jobs supported in total, based on 2022 data. NRF expects retailers to add 325,000 to 375,000 seasonal workers for the 2026 holidays.
- Are store closures rising in 2026?
- Closures are concentrated in specific chains such as Amazon Fresh, Cato and Leslie's, and Coresight Research calculates that announcements through October 2026 still add a net 28.1 million square feet of US retail space. In the UK, Coresight tracked closures 31% higher year over year in mid-June 2026.
- How are UK retail sales doing?
- The ONS estimates Great Britain retail volumes rose 0.7% in the third quarter of 2026 but fell 0.4% in September, with 28.8% of sales made online. The BRC found total UK sales up 1.3% in value in September.
Where these numbers come from
We used primary publishers only: statistical agencies (the Census Bureau, BEA, the ONS, Eurostat, Statistics Canada, the National Bureau of Statistics of China and the ABS), trade bodies reporting their own surveys or research (NRF, including PwC research it commissioned, and the British Retail Consortium with KPMG), and firms that collect their own data (Coresight Research, Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Placer.ai, Adobe and the Centre for Retail Research). Every quote was refetched from the source page. Census, NRF and BRC dollar figures are nominal and include price changes; the ONS and Eurostat figures are volumes. NRF's core retail definition excludes autos, gas stations and restaurants, so its totals differ from Census. Monthly estimates are revised. Coresight counts are based on announcements and its full reports are subscription only, so we cite the headlines it publishes openly. Challenger counts announced job cuts, not completed layoffs. Adobe figures are forecasts. Currencies differ by country: US, Canadian and Australian dollars, pounds, euros and yuan. We store the sentence each number appears in, and a script loads the publisher's page again to make sure that sentence is still there. Our methodology has the details.
Sources
- Adobe. Adobe: U.S. Holiday Shopping Season to Hit Record $275.1 Billion Online, Rising 6.7% YoY (Sep 2026).
- Australian Bureau of Statistics. Monthly Household Spending Indicator, September 2026 (Nov 2026).
- British Retail Consortium. Sluggish sales as shoppers look for Budget boost (Oct 2026).
- Centre for Retail Research. Who's Gone Bust in Retail? (2026).
- Challenger, Gray & Christmas. October Layoffs at Three-Year Low; Seasonal Hiring Plans Up 26% (Nov 2026).
- Coresight Research. Coresight Research Store Trackers (Nov 2026).
- Eurostat. Volume of retail trade down by 0.7% in the euro area and by 0.6% in the EU (Nov 2026).
- National Bureau of Statistics of China. Total Retail Sales of Consumer Goods from January to September 2026 (Oct 2026).
- National Retail Federation. NRF Forecasts 4.4% Annual Retail Sales Growth With New Economic Model (Mar 2026).
- National Retail Federation. CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor: Retail Sales Monthly Report, October 2026 (Nov 2026).
- National Retail Federation. How retail contributes to the U.S. economy (Nov 2026).
- National Retail Federation. NRF Forecasts 2026 Holiday Sales Growth as Consumers Remain Resilient (Oct 2026).
- Office for National Statistics. Retail sales, Great Britain: September 2026 (Oct 2026).
- Placer.ai. Placer.ai October 2026 Mall Index: Resilience Into the Holidays (Nov 2026).
- Statistics Canada. Payroll employment, earnings and hours, and job vacancies, August 2026 (Oct 2026).
- Statistics Canada. Retail trade, August 2026 (Oct 2026).
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Personal Income and Outlays, September 2026 (Oct 2026).
- U.S. Census Bureau. Advance Monthly Sales for Retail and Food Services, September 2026 (Oct 2026).
- U.S. Census Bureau. Quarterly Retail E-Commerce Sales, 2nd Quarter 2026 (Aug 2026).
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Comredix. (2026, November 13). Retail Sales Statistics 2026. https://comredix.com/retail-sales-statistics
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