U.S. retail sales rose 0.8% in September from August, more than double what economists had expected, though down from a 1.3% increase in August. The National Retail Federation forecasts consumers will spend $1 trillion in November and December, up 4.2% from 2025, even as inflation has outpaced pay raises and inflation-adjusted incomes have fallen over the last six months. Much of September's gain came from higher gas prices, but spending also rose at online stores, restaurants and grocery stores. The article notes, however, that spending is largely propped up by the wealthiest households amid a booming stock market, while many others are cutting into savings and treading water.
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