U.S. Retail Sales Rose 0.8% in September, With Gasoline Spending a Major Factor
Retail sales across the nation increased by 0.8% in September. However, a significant portion of this growth was attributed to consumers spending more on gasoline due to rising prices, with sales excluding gas stations rising by only 0.2%.
Biloxi Gulfport, MS, October 16, 2026 —
Retail sales across the nation increased by 0.8% in September, but the gain was substantially smaller when sales at gas stations were excluded. Sales excluding gas stations rose 0.2%, according to the figures provided.
The difference indicates that increased consumer spending on gasoline accounted for a significant portion of the overall growth. The summary attributes that spending increase to rising gasoline prices. It does not provide the size of the contribution from gas stations or specify how much of the increase reflected prices rather than the amount of gasoline purchased.
The figures therefore show a stronger headline increase than the growth recorded outside gas stations. The 0.2% measure offers a view of sales excluding that category, but the information provided does not break down results for other types of retailers or identify which of them gained or lost ground.
No year was specified for the September figures, and no underlying report or data source was identified. The information also does not state whether the percentages are adjusted for seasonal patterns, provide a comparison with a prior month or year, or describe changes in the volume of goods sold. Those details are not available in the trend summary.
Based on the figures given, overall retail sales rose 0.8% in September, while sales excluding gas stations increased by 0.2%. The reported distinction underscores how spending at gas stations influenced the headline result, while leaving the performance of individual retail categories and the precise effects of prices unspecified.
Story summarized from the original created by Associated Press on www.wxxv25.com, see more information here.
