U.S. Census Bureau Reports 5.0 Percent Growth in August Retail Sales

The U.S. Census Bureau is reporting that its August Advance Monthly Retail Trade Survey indicates that advance estimates, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $732.0 billion in August 2025, up 0.6 percent (±0.4 percent) from the July 2025, and up 5.0 percent (±0.5 percent) from August 2024 (y/y).

Total sales for the June 2025 through August 2025 period were reportedly up 4.5 percent (±0.4 percent) from the comparative period a year ago. The June 2025 to July 2025 percent change was revised from +0.5 percent (±0.4 percent) to +0.6 percent (±0.2 percent).

Retail Trade Sales were reportedly up 0.6 percent (±0.4 percent) m/m, and up 4.8 percent (±0.5 percent) year-over-year. Non-store retailers (Internet and Catalog) were up 10.1 percent (±1.2 percent) y/y, while food service and drinking places were up 6.5 percent (±1.8 percent) year-over-year.

The U.S. Census Bureau’s Advance Report, although seen as positive due to concerns about a potential consumer purchasing downturn, is slightly less optimistic than the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor report released on Friday, September 12. The report showed that Retail Trade Sales increased by 6.8 percent year-over-year in August.

The CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor reports actual, anonymized credit and debit card purchase data compiled by Affinity Solutions, which tabulates its report results without requiring monthly or annual revisions. The Retail Monitor leverages Affinity Solutions’ data from over 140 million credit and debit cards.

The U.S. Census Bureau reported that the sector, which includes Sporting Goods Stores, was up 4.7 percent y/y in August, compared to the CNBC/NRF report that had the same Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, & Book Stores up nearly 9 percent year-over-year.

The Clothing & Accessories stores sector, which includes Footwear stores, was up 8.3 percent y/y in the just-reported U.S. Census Bureau report, a key finding also highlighted in the CNBC/NRF report.

The U.S. Census Bureau report had General Merchandise stores up just 1.9 percent y/y in the August report, a far cry from the 7.6 percent increase reported in the CNBC/NDF report.

The U.S. Census Bureau report had the Department Stores sub-sector down 1.0 percent y/y in August.