NRF: Retail sales rose in September

Retail sales increased again in September as worries about the COVID-19 delta variant pushed consumer spending toward merchandise rather than services like dining, entertainment or travel, the National Retail Federation (NRF) announced last week.

Overall retail sales in September were up 0.7% seasonally adjusted from August and up 13.9% year over year, NRF officials said in a press release, citing U.S. Census Bureau data. That compares with increases of 0.9% month over month and 15.4% year over year in August. Despite occasional month-over-month declines, sales have grown year over year every month since June 2020, according to the data.

NRF's calculation of retail sales — which excludes automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants to focus on core retail — also showed September was up 0.7% seasonally adjusted from August and that September was up 11% unadjusted year over year, NRF officials said. That compared with increases of 2.4% month over month and 12.2% year over year in August.

"Despite persistent challenges related to the global pandemic, supply chain and labor shortages, retailers and their partners have shown resilience and ingenuity in getting the workforce, goods and systems in place to serve their customers and the communities where they operate," NRF President and Chief Executive Officer Matthew Shay said in a press release.

NRF officials welcomed the Biden administration's efforts to address global supply-chain gridlock, he said.