Retail sales reached $70.7 billion in April, an increase of 5.7% compared with the same month one year earlier. Higher sales were recorded in 13 of the 18 commodity classes.
In April, the largest gain in dollar terms came from motor vehicle sales, which posted a year-over-year increase of 14.8%. Growth in this commodity class was driven by higher sales of new motor vehicles (+14.8%), as sales of new minivans, sport utility vehicles and light trucks (+17.0%) led the gains. Used motor vehicles posted higher sales in April, increasing by 14.7% from the same month in 2024.
Retail sales of food and beverages (+6.6%) grew in April 2025. Sales of cookies, confectionery and snack foods (+13.8%) led the gains, followed by sales of eggs and dairy products (+11.3%) and fresh meat and poultry (+11.9%).
The largest decline in dollar terms in April came from sales of automotive and household fuels (-8.9%). With lower prices seen at the pump, sales of automotive fuels posted a decrease of 9.8% compared with the same month one year earlier.
The advance estimate provided by the Monthly Retail Trade Survey suggests that unadjusted total retail sales in May 2025 increased by 4.2%. 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.
With this month's release, data for the monthly and quarterly tables were revised back to January 2024 and the first quarter of 2024, respectively. These revisions take into account late reporting and corrected respondent information.
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 tables: 20-10-0071-01 and 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, March 2025.
Contact information
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