US Retail Sales Fall 0.6% in July as June Deal Events Pulled Spending Forward
Updated
Updated · Morning Brew · Aug 15
US Retail Sales Fall 0.6% in July as June Deal Events Pulled Spending Forward
3 articles · Updated · Morning Brew · Aug 15
Summary
July US retail sales dropped 0.6% from June—the first monthly decline in nine months and the biggest since May 2025—missing expectations.
A 2.2% fall at nonstore retailers helped drive the pullback after Amazon Prime Day and similar Walmart+ and Target Circle promotions shifted into June, when online sales had jumped 7.7%.
Falling gasoline prices weighed on the headline figure, but sales still weakened even after accounting for that effect, pointing to softer underlying demand.
An 8% slide in consumer sentiment, a 23,000 drop in payrolls and inflation still near 3.4% add to signs of strain, reinforcing expectations the Fed may hold rates steady in September.