U.S. Retail Sales Jump 1.4% in March, Beating Expectations — Consumer Spending Remains Resilient

U.S. Retail Sales Jump 1.4%  in March, Beating Expectations — Consumer Spending Remains Resilient

 

Washington, D.C. — April 25, 2025 — U.S. retail sales surged by 1.4% in March 2025, exceeding market expectations of 1.3%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The strong showing highlights continued resilience in consumer spending despite ongoing economic uncertainties and external pressures such as new tariff policies.

 

Total retail and food services sales reached $734.9 billion, marking a 4.6% year-over-year increase. The automotive sector led the gains, as consumers rushed to buy vehicles ahead of expected tariff hikes.

 

🔍 Key highlights from the report:

🚗 Motor vehicles & parts: +5.3% MoM, +8.8% YoY

🛒 Core Retail Sales (ex-autos): +0.5% (above forecast of 0.4%)

📦 Control Group (ex-autos, gas, building materials, food services): +0.4%, in line with estimates

🏗️ Building materials & garden supplies: +3.3%

🍽️ Bars & restaurants: +1.8%

💊 Health & personal care stores: +0.7%

🛍️ General merchandise stores: +0.6%

💻 Online retailers: +0.1% (down from +3.5% in February)

⛽ Gas stations: -2.5% due to lower fuel prices

 

Analysts noted that vehicle sales likely surged due to concerns over upcoming import tariffs, prompting early purchases and boosting March’s figures.