IE Business Daily Business news for the Inland Empire.
Retail sales nationwide dipped slightly between August and September, mostly because of several months of back-to-school spending, according to the National Retail Federation.
Total retail sales, not counting automobiles and gasoline, fell 0.6 percent month-over-month, the Washington, D.C.-based trade association reported.
That number was seasonally adjusted. On a positive note, unadjusted retail sales were up 5.4 percent year-over-year nationwide in September.
“Amid continued economic uncertainty, consumers opted to preserve spending power in preparation for the important holiday season,” said Matthew Shay, the federation’s chief executive officer and president, in statement. “While month-over-month spending data has fluctuated as consumers have reacted to changing circumstances, year-over-year gains show robust growth and signal momentum as we head into the holidays.”
Core retail sales – everything except automobile dealerships, restaurants and gasoline stations – were down 0.4 percent month-over-month in September, but up 5.7 percent year over year.
Total sales were up 5.1 percent year-over-year for the first nine months of 2025, while core sales were up 5.3 percent, the federation reported.
