Retail Sales Rose in March
Most of the spending was at the gas pump, with business at gas stations up 15.5%.
Apr 21, 2026 | 2 min read
March spending increased from February, driven largely by higher gas prices, reported the Associated Press.
“A spike in gas prices due to the Iran war, now in its eighth week, resulted in a 1.7% gain in retail sales in March after a revised 0.7% increase in February, according to the Commerce Department’s report on Tuesday. The report marks the first read on spending to capture the effects of the Iran war,” the outlet wrote.
Business at gas stations rose 15.5%. Excluding gasoline, retail sales increased just 0.6%, supported in part by government tax refunds and warmer weather.
Elsewhere, sales at department stores rose 4.2%, while furniture store sales increased 2.2%. Online retailers posted a 1% gain, according to the report.
AP noted the data provides only a partial view of consumer spending and does not include categories such as travel and hotel stays. Restaurant sales rose 0.1%.
The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this month that consumer prices surged in March, driven higher by escalating gasoline prices.
Consumer prices rose 3.3% year over year in March, according to the Labor Department—well above February’s 2.4% increase and the highest reading in two years. The figures exclude food and energy categories.
As gas and diesel prices continue to dominate headlines, media coverage has become more positive around the dynamics of fuel retailing—particularly how and why prices increase. Read more about how retailer voices are shining through.
The NACS Fuels Resource Center contains backgrounders on key messages and data points related to fueling.
