Reasons to Read

Gain valuable insights into the US retail sector’s performance and future outlook. Read this report to discover answers to these and other questions:

• What is the growth outlook for the US retail sector in early 2026, and what factors are contributing to the strong retail sales growth projections for February and March?
• How will key economic indicators—such as wage growth, consumer sentiment, and inflation—affect retail sales and consumer behavior in the coming months?
• What is the impact of rising mortgage rates and their effect on discretionary spending, particularly in sectors like home improvement?
• How are shifts in consumer behavior, including the demand for convenience and premium services, influencing retail strategies for higher-income consumers?

Data in this report include: US retail sales forecasts; model-predicted vs. actual retail growth; labor force, wage, and inflation metrics; consumer sentiment and disposable income trends; housing market data.

Alongside this report, you can access the data behind key charts and tables in the Excel download above.

Other relevant research:

• Coresight Research’s monthly reports keep you up to date on retail sales (in total and by sector) and key consumer indicators in the US.
• All our coverage of tariffs
• The US Retail Sales Databank features retail sales values and year-over-year growth, in total and by sector, by year and by month. This Databank is updated monthly.

The Coresight Research US Consumer Survey Databank provides additional insight into US consumer behaviors from our weekly surveys. Our Weekly US Consumer Sentiment infographic series complements our survey reports with selected findings on consumers’ financial and economic expectations each week.