U.S. retail and food services sales fell in July 2026. Advance estimates put seasonally adjusted receipts at $763.6 billion, down 0.6 percent (±0.4 percent) from June’s revised $768.1 billion, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Compared with July 2025, sales were up 5.0 percent (±0.5 percent). The monthly decline was the largest since May 2025 and followed an earlier tax-refund-driven bump in spring spending noted by Associated Press.
Data Snapshot
| Metric | Current | Previous | Change | Period | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales (seasonally adjusted) | $763.6 billion | $768.1 billion (June 2026, revised) | down 0.6 percent (±0.4 percent) from the previous month | July 2026 | August 14, 2026 | U.S. Census Bureau |
| Year‑over‑year change in retail and food services sales | up 5.0 percent (±0.5 percent) from July 2025 | — | — | July 2026 vs July 2025 | August 14, 2026 | U.S. Census Bureau |
| Total sales for the May 2026 through July 2026 period (three‑month period) | up 6.3 percent (±0.5 percent) from the same period a year ago | — | — | May–July 2026 vs May–July 2025 | August 14, 2026 | U.S. Census Bureau |
| Total (excl. motor vehicle & parts & gasoline stations) — monthly percent change (a control‑style measure) | -0.2 percent (month‑over‑month) | — | — | July 2026 vs June 2026 | August 14, 2026 | U.S. Census Bureau (Table 1) |
| Nonstore retailers (online) — monthly percent change | -2.2 percent (month‑over‑month) | — | — | July 2026 vs June 2026 | August 14, 2026 | U.S. Census Bureau (Table 1) |
How July’s retail reading shifted
The headline pullback was mirrored in several components. Nonstore retailers, a proxy for online commerce, declined 2.2 percent month‑over‑month in July 2026, per the advance tables (Census Bureau).
A commonly watched control-style measure that excludes motor vehicle & parts dealers and gasoline stations slipped 0.2 percent month‑over‑month. That suggests weakness was not confined to autos or fuel-sensitive categories (Table 1).
Looking through monthly noise, total sales for the May 2026 through July 2026 period were up 6.3 percent (±0.5 percent) from the same three months a year earlier, underscoring that the broader three‑month trend remains higher on a year‑over‑year basis (Census release).
Drivers of the July decline, based on available evidence
Confirmed readings: the headline series fell 0.6 percent (±0.4 percent) month‑over‑month, nonstore receipts dropped 2.2 percent, and the ex‑autos‑and‑gas control-style measure edged down 0.2 percent. News coverage also noted that the July setback followed a spring lift tied to tax refunds (AP).
Reasonable inference: the decline in nonstore spending likely weighed on the headline. With the control-style measure also negative, softness appeared broader than just autos and fuel. Those elements align with a post‑refund normalization narrative discussed in coverage, without pinpointing any single category as the sole driver.
What retail sales can and cannot say
The advance retail and food services report is a timely gauge of nominal spending on goods and dining, seasonally adjusted but not adjusted for inflation. It can indicate shifts in consumer demand and category momentum from one month to the next and over multi‑month windows.
On its own, the series does not prove changes in real (inflation‑adjusted) consumption, nor does it capture most services spending outside food services. As an advance estimate, it is also subject to revision as more complete data become available from retailers.
What to watch next
Watch the Census Bureau’s next advance monthly retail sales release for confirmation or reversal of July’s weakness (Census retail sales). Key signposts include whether nonstore retailers rebound, whether the ex‑autos‑and‑gas control-style measure returns to growth, and how the three‑month comparison evolves.
For markets that key off growth signals, including risk assets such as equities and crypto, the tone of these subcomponents can matter as much as the headline.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.
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