Retail sales reached $56.9 billion in February, an increase of 1.0% compared with the same month one year earlier. Higher sales were reported in 10 of the 18 commodity classes.
In February, the largest monthly increase in dollar terms came from sales of food and beverages, which rose 1.9% compared with the same month in 2024. Sales of packaged food dry goods (+4.5%) led the gains in this commodity class in February 2025, followed by sales of eggs and dairy products (+3.7%) and fresh meat and poultry (+4.3%).
Retail sales of automotive and household fuels grew 3.1% in February. With higher prices seen at the pump, sales of automotive fuels posted a gain of 3.3% compared with the same month one year earlier.
Retail sales of motor vehicles (+0.6%) grew in February. The largest gain within this commodity class stemmed from higher sales of used motor vehicles (+7.8%), which more than offset lower sales of new motor vehicles (-4.0%).
The largest decline in February was in sales of hardware, tools, and renovation and lawn and garden products (-7.5%). In dollar terms, the leading decrease within this product class came from lower sales of lumber and other renovation materials and supplies (-7.6%).
The advance estimate provided by the Monthly Retail Trade Survey suggests that unadjusted total retail sales in March 2025 increased by 5.2%. Because of its preliminary nature, this figure will be revised.
Table 1: Sales by type of commodity, all retail stores - Seasonally unadjusted
Note to readers
The Retail Commodity Survey collects national-level retail sales data, by commodity, from the same businesses surveyed in the Monthly Retail Trade Survey. No data have been seasonally adjusted. All percentage changes are year over year.
New classification standard
As of the January 2023 reference period, Retail Commodity Survey figures are based on the 2022 North American Product Classification System and the North American Industry Classification System structures. These new classification structures have introduced new commodities, updated commodity definitions and broadened the industry scope for the estimates of the Retail Commodity Survey.
Find more statistics on retail trade.
Reference
Data table: 20-10-0080-01.
- Note: some data tables may best be viewed on desktop.
Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 2008.
Previous release: Retail Commodity Survey, January 2025.
Contact information
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