U.S. retail activity strengthened in the latest reading of the Redbook index, with year-over-year growth accelerating to 7.6%, up from the previous 6.9%. The updated data, released on 07 April 2026, signals a firmer pace of consumer spending compared with the same period a year earlier.
The Redbook indicator, which tracks same-store sales at large U.S. retailers, compares the change for the reported month to the same month a year ago. The prior figure of 6.9% reflected the annual change in the previous month, while the current 7.6% reading indicates that retailers are now seeing faster sales growth on a yearly basis.
The pickup in the index suggests that underlying consumer demand remains resilient, with major retailers benefiting from stronger year-over-year comparisons as the second quarter of 2026 gets underway.