US retail sales increased again in July, extending their run of gains to 10 consecutive months, according to the latest CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor from the National Retail Federation. Total retail sales, excluding automobile dealers and gasoline stations, increased 0.32% on a seasonally adjusted month-over-month basis in July and 5.15% unadjusted year over year. In June, sales rose 0.33% month over month and 9.41% year over year. Core retail sales, which exclude restaurants as well as automobile dealers and gasoline stations, increased 0.3% month over month in July and 4.72% year over year. That followed June increases of 0.36% month over month and 10.08% year over year. Across the first 7 months of 2026, total retail sales were up 6.57% compared with the same period a year earlier, while core sales increased 6.53%.

For optometrists and other eyecare professionals operating practices within the broader health care and retail environment, one category in the report stands out: health and personal care stores recorded a 10.07% year-over-year increase in July, making the sector one of the 3 strongest categories measured by the Retail Monitor. Health and personal care sales also rose 0.53% from June on a seasonally adjusted basis.

NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay attributed July’s continued retail growth to consumer spending supported by employment and wage trends, “despite ups and downs in other economic indicators,” Shay said. According to Shay, low unemployment and steady wage gains supported households, while consumers remained budget conscious and took advantage of midsummer sales and early back-to-school promotions. He also cited retailers’ focus on affordability and access to everyday products.