# U.S. Retail Sales Beat Expectations

> August retail sales rose 1.2% in U.S., exceeding forecasts and reversing July's decline.
- Title: U.S. Retail Sales Beat Expectations · Yahoo Finance | Shortify
- Summary: August retail sales rose 1.2% in U.S., exceeding forecasts and reversing July's decline. U.S. retail sales increased 1.2% in August, beating expectations and…
- Keywords: u.s., retail sales, census bureau, fed, inflation, consumer confidence, interest rate, business, finance, Retail, Sales, Beat
- Source: Yahoo Finance — https://finance.yahoo.com/economy/articles/u-retail-sales-beat-expectations-172249929.html
- Published: 2026-09-16T17:22:49+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: u.s., retail sales, census bureau, fed, inflation, consumer confidence, interest rate, business, finance
## August retail sales rise
U.S. retail and food services sales rose 1.2% in August from the prior month, beating forecasts and reversing a July decline.
## Sales total $773.9 billion
Total sales came in at $773.9 billion on a seasonally adjusted basis, up 6.0% from August 2025.
## July figure revised
The July figure was revised to a 0.5% decline from a previously reported 0.6% drop.
## Economists raise growth estimates
Economists surveyed by Reuters had forecast a 0.8% rebound, prompting higher third quarter GDP growth estimates.
## Gasoline prices drive service station sales
Service-station sales rose 3.1% due to a jump in gasoline prices, according to Reuters.
## Consumer confidence drops
The University of Michigan's Index of Consumer Sentiment fell to 51.0 in August from 55.2 in July, a drop of 7.6%.
## Key takeaway

U.S. retail sales increased 1.2% in August, beating expectations and reversing July's decline as inflation concerns rise.