Trending Now - Retail Sales Surge in March Fueled by Rising Gas Prices

WHO:

CNN - Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union

WHAT:

CNN - Retail sales in the United States rose by 1.7% in March 2026.

CNN - This increase marked the fastest monthly pace in more than three years.

CNN - Sales at gasoline stations increased by 15.5% from February 2026.

Bloomberg Markets - Retail sales topped analyst estimates.

ABC News - Shoppers accelerated their spending in March 2026 compared to February 2026.

WHERE:

CNN - United States

WHEN:

CNN - The retail sales data was reported on Tuesday, April 19th, 2026.

CNN - The previous month, February 2026, saw a retail sales increase of 0.7%.

WHY:

CNN - The surge in retail sales was driven by a record spike in gas prices due to the war with Iran and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

HOW:

CNN - Retail sales figures are adjusted for seasonal swings but not for inflation.

(UPDATED April 21, 2026 15:21 UTC)

Retail sales in the United States rose by 1.7% in March 20th26, marking the fastest monthly pace in over three years, according to Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union. This surge was largely driven by a significant 15.5% increase in sales at gasoline stations, as shoppers accelerated their spending compared to February, which saw a more modest increase of 0.7%. The retail sales data, reported on Tuesday, on Sunday, reflects seasonal adjustments but does not account for inflation, with the spike in gas prices attributed to the ongoing conflict with Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.