Retail spending in the US increased in July as consumers sought summer sales promotions to buy goods before higher tariffs were implemented, the countrys latest retail sales data reveals.
The CNBC/National Retail Federation NRF Retail Monitor , released on August 11, shows total sales were up 4.83 year-on-year for the first seven months of 2025 and core sales were up 5.07.
Consumer spending increased in July, driven by successful summer sales events held by many retailers and shoppers continuing to pull purchases forward ahead of tariffs, NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said.
Month-over-month gains were sizeable against a weaker-than-normal June. We may be seeing growing inflationary impacts from tariffs since recent data shows price increases in commodity goods, particularly non-durables.
Even with weaker job growth than many expected, consumers still have the ability to spend on household priorities as wages are growing above the rate of inflation.
Total retail sales, excluding automobile dealers and gasoline, were up 1.45 seasonally adjusted month-on-month compared to June and up 5.89 unadjusted year-on-year in July.
The Retail Monitor calculation of core retail sales excluding restaurants in addition to automobile dealers and gasoline stations was up 1.55 month-on-month in July and up 5.93 year-on-year.
Unlike survey-based numbers collected by the Census Bureau, the Retail Monitor uses actual, anonymised credit and debit card purchase data, compiled by Affinity Solutions, which does not need to be revised monthly or annually.
July sales were up in all but one of nine categories on a yearly basis led by digital products, sporting goods stores and general merchandise stores. Building and garden supply stores sales declined 4.11 year-on-year.
Sales across key sectors rose year-on-year as follows:
Digital products such as electronic books and games 25.01 Sporting goods, hobby, music and book stores 9.99 General merchandise stores 6.94 Clothing and accessories stores 6.73 Grocery and beverage stores 5.42 Health and personal care stores 4.44 Furniture and home furnishings stores 1.53