U.S. Retail And Food Services Sales Report for SEPTEMBER 2026

The Commerce Department has released advance estimates of U.S. Retail and Food Services Sales for SEPTEMBER, 2026:

=================

Previous Month (revised): +1.29% (+$9,407,000,000)

• Actual: +0.77% (+$5,699,000,000)

================= 

The highlighted percentage above represents the month-to-month, seasonally adjusted change in total sales receipts for retailers that sell durable and non-durable goods, and retailers that provide food and beverage services.

=================

• Est. Retail Sales During September: $745,021,000,000

• Year-On-Year Change: +6.29% (+$44,073,000,000)

=================

 

CHART: Retail Sales - Monthly

January 2006 Thru September 2026
SEPTEMBER 2026 UPDATE
=================

 

• Click here to view the full Commerce Department report.
  
  

=================   

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New Unemployment Insurance Claims for The Week of October 10, 2026

Jobless Claims

The Labor Department released its weekly report on New Jobless Insurance Claims for the week that ended on October 10, 2026:

====================
Predicted: 199,000

• Actual: 199,000

====================

The yellow-highlighted figure represents the number of first-time claims for unemployment benefits for the entire United States. The "predicted" figure is what economists were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

 --> Previous Week (revised): 198,000

• 4-Week Moving Average: 198,500

====================

• Click here to view the full Labor Department report

====================

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Import and Export Price Indexes for SEPTEMBER 2026

The Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics released its report on U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes for September, 2026:

===============

Import Prices
Previous Reading (revised)*: +0.5%
Actual: +1.1%

• Change From 12-Months Previous: +8.1%

    -- Year-on-year previous reading = +6.7%

===============

Export Prices
Previous Reading (revised)*: +1.2%
Actual: +2.2%

• Change From 12-Months Previous: +11.6%

    -- Year-on-year previous reading* = +9.3%

===============
 

* = Revised data.  

 

The above percentages, highlighted in yellow, represent the month-to-month change in prices for:

• Imports: the cost of goods produced in other countries and sold in the United States.
• Exports: the cost of goods produced in the USA and sold in other countries.

Together, these indexes offer insight into the status of inflation in the United States, and for the global economy as well. The "predicted" figure is what economists were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

=================

CHART: Import Price Index

SEPTEMBER, 2026 Update

================= 

 

CHART: Export Price Index

SEPTEMBER, 2026 Update

===============

• Click here to view the full Labor Department report.

===============

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Producer Price Index - Final Demand (PPI-FD) for SEPTEMBER 2026

Here is the Producer Price Index - Final Demand (PPI-FD) for SEPTEMBER, 2026:

===============================
Previous Month (revised): +0.5%

• Actual: +1.3%

Change from 12-months previous:  +6.3% 
(prior - revised = +5.6%)

===============================

Below is the PPI-FD when Food, Energy and Trade Services are removed:

Previous Month (unrevised): +0.3% 

• Actual: +0.5%

Change from 12-months previous:  +5.0% 
(prior - unrevised = +4.8%)

===============================

• PPI-FD Goods, Year-on-Year: +9.8% (prior = +7.7%)

• PPI-FD Services, Year-on-Year: +4.9% (prior = +4.7%)

 

The above, yellow-highlighted percentages represent the month-to-month change in prices received by domestic producers of goods and services, for goods, services and construction in the United States, for final demand.

Final Demand = personal consumption (consumers), exports, government purchases and capital investment.
 
==============

CHART: Producer Price Index

  Final Demand (PPI-FD)
12-Month Percent Change
SEPTEMBER 2026 Update

==============

• Click here to view the full Labor Department report.

============== 

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Consumer Price Index (CPI) for SEPTEMBER 2026

The Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics released its Consumer Price Index (CPI) for September, 2026:
=========================================

CPI During September, 2026: 336.940

=========================================

Consumer Price Index (CPI); Headline

Predicted: +0.5%

->  Actual: +0.59% (+1.96 points)

• Year-on-Year Change: +3.74% (+12.14 points)

[Y-o-Y previous = +3.4%]

=========================================

CPI, Minus Food + Energy (Core CPI)

Predicted: +0.3%

 - > Actual: +0.37% (+1.246 points)

• Year-on-Year Change: +2.56% (+8.483 points)

[Y-o-Y previous = +2.45%]

=========================================

The above, yellow- and blue-highlighted figures represent month-to-month and year-on-year changes (not seasonally adjusted) in prices for a specific group of goods and services that consumers buy, and is, therefore, a very important part of the overall inflation picture for the country.

The "predicted" figure is what economists were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

General categories that constitute the CPI are:

• Healthcare
• Housing
• Clothing
• Communications
• Education
• Transportation
• Food and Beverages
• Recreation
• Miscellaneous Goods and Services (grooming expenses, etc.)

========================================

CPI During September, 2025: 324.800

=======================================

CHART: Consumer Price Index

12-Month Percentage Change
SEPTEMBER 2026 Update

========================================

• Click here to view the full Labor Department report.
  

========================================

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New Unemployment Insurance Claims for The Week of October 3, 2026

Jobless Claims

The Labor Department released its weekly report on New Jobless Insurance Claims for the week that ended on October 3, 2026:

====================
Predicted: 199,000

• Actual: 197,000

====================

The yellow-highlighted figure represents the number of first-time claims for unemployment benefits for the entire United States. The "predicted" figure is what economists were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

 --> Previous Week (revised): 199,000

• 4-Week Moving Average: 198,000

====================

• Click here to view the full Labor Department report

====================

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Employment Situation Report for SEPTEMBER 2026

The Employment Situation Report for September, 2026 was released by The Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics:

Nonfarm Payrolls (month-to-month change)
Actual: +29,000

Previous Month (revised): +133,000

One-Year Previous: +76,000

U-3 Unemployment Rate (Headline)
Actual: 4.2%
Previous Month: 4.1%
12-Months Previous: 4.4%

U-6 Unemployment Rate*
Actual: 7.6%
Previous Month: 7.7%
12-Months Previous: 8.1%

Average Hourly Earnings (month-to-month change)
Predicted: +0.2%
Actual: +0.13% (+$0.05)

Average Hourly Earnings (year-on-year change)
Predicted: +3.2%
Actual: +3.02% (+$1.11)

Average Weekly Earnings (month-to-month change)
Actual: +0.13% (+$1.72)

Average Weekly Earnings (year-on-year change)
Actual: +3.63% (+$45.52)

Civilian Labor Force Participation Rate: 61.8%
Previous Month: 61.6%
12-Months Previous: 62.5%

Average Weekly Hours: 34.4 hours
Previous Month: 34.4 hours
One-Year Previous: 34.2 hours

Economist, academics, central bankers and investors pay very close attention to the monthly Employment Situation report as it offers penetrating insight as to the current and near-future state of the overall U.S. economy. If a) Americans are earning more money and b) the economy is creating new jobs, this typically translates to more money being pumped into the economy (and vice versa.)

The "predicted" figure is what economists were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

===================

CHART: Civilian Unemployment Rate

SEPTEMBER 2006 thru SEPTEMBER 2026

   ===================

 

 * =  The U-6 Unemployment Rate is defined as:

"Total unemployed, plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force, plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force."

===================

• Click here to view the full Department of Labor report.

===================

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PCE Price Index + Personal Income + Consumer Spending Report for AUGUST 2026

The Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released its report on The PCE Price Index, Consumer Spending and Personal Income for August, 2026:

=============

Consumer Spending (Personal Consumption Expenditures [PCE])

Previous Reading (revised): +0.1%

• Actual: +0.9%
  
  
• > Real PCE: +0.6%*

=============

Personal Income

Previous Reading (revised): +0.3%

• Actual: +0.2%
  
  
• > Disposable Personal Income (DPI): +0.3%
  
  
• >> Real DPI: FLAT* 

=============

The above highlighted percentages represent the month-to-month change in Consumer Spending (aka Personal Consumption Expenditures), Personal Income and Disposable Personal Income for the entire United States.

 

PCE Price Index
Previous Reading (revised): +0.1%

• Actual: +0.3% 

• Change from 12-months previous: +3.4%
  (prior - revised = +3.4%)

=====================

Core PCE Price Index
( = PCE Price Index minus food and energy)
Previous Reading (revised): +0.1%

• Actual: +0.2%

• Change from 12-months previous: +3.0%
  (prior - revised = +3.0%)

=====================

The PCE Price Index is different from the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in that it is a very broad measure of the prices associated with domestic products and services, while the CPI measures a more limited fixed basket of goods and services.

The broad nature of the PCE Price Index is key to why it is the Federal Reserve's preferred measure of inflation.  The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) pays very close attention to it.

=====================

 

CHART: Changes In Monthly Consumer Spending

AUGUST 2026 UPDATE

=====================

 Click here to view the full
Commerce Department report (PDF). 

=====================

* =  Chained dollars is a method of adjusting real dollar amounts for inflation over time, so as to allow comparison of figures from different years. The Commerce Department introduced the chained-dollar measure in 1996. Chained dollars generally reflect dollar figures computed with 2012 as the base year.

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New Unemployment Insurance Claims for The Week of September 19, 2026

Jobless Claims

The Labor Department released its weekly report on New Jobless Insurance Claims for the week that ended on September 19, 2026:

====================
Predicted: 199,000

• Actual: 197,000

====================

The yellow-highlighted figure represents the number of first-time claims for unemployment benefits for the entire United States. The "predicted" figure is what economists were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

 --> Previous Week (revised): 198,000

• 4-Week Moving Average: 202,250

====================

• Click here to view the full Labor Department report

====================

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Import and Export Price Indexes for AUGUST 2026

The Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics released its report on U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes for August, 2026:

===============

Import Prices
Previous Reading (revised)*: -0.3%
Actual: +0.7%

• Change From 12-Months Previous: +7.0%

    -- Year-on-year previous reading = +5.9%

===============

Export Prices
Previous Reading (revised)*: -1.4%
Actual: +0.6%

• Change From 12-Months Previous: +8.6%

    -- Year-on-year previous reading* = +8.2%

===============
 

* = Revised data.  

 

The above percentages, highlighted in yellow, represent the month-to-month change in prices for:

• Imports: the cost of goods produced in other countries and sold in the United States.
• Exports: the cost of goods produced in the USA and sold in other countries.

Together, these indexes offer insight into the status of inflation in the United States, and for the global economy as well. The "predicted" figure is what economists were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

=================

CHART: Import Price Index

AUGUST, 2026 Update

================= 

CHART: Export Price Index

AUGUST, 2026 Update

===============

• Click here to view the full Labor Department report.

===============

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New Unemployment Insurance Claims for The Week of September 5, 2026

Jobless Claims

Earlier today, the Labor Department released its weekly report on New Jobless Insurance Claims for the week that ended on September 5, 2026:

====================
Predicted: 206,000

• Actual: 206,000

====================

The yellow-highlighted figure represents the number of first-time claims for unemployment benefits for the entire United States. The "predicted" figure is what economists were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

 --> Previous Week (revised): 207,000

• 4-Week Moving Average: 206,000

====================

• Click here to view the full Labor Department report

====================

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Producer Price Index - Final Demand (PPI-FD) for AUGUST 2026

Here is the Producer Price Index - Final Demand (PPI-FD) for AUGUST, 2026:

===============================
Previous Month (revised): +0.1%

• Actual: +0.4%

Change from 12-months previous:  +5.4% 
(prior - revised = +4.8%)

===============================

Below is the PPI-FD when Food, Energy and Trade Services are removed:

Previous Month (unrevised): +0.4% 

• Actual: +0.3%

Change from 12-months previous:  +4.7% 
(prior - unrevised = +4.7%)

===============================

• PPI-FD Goods, Year-on-Year: +7.7% (prior = +6.8%)

• PPI-FD Services, Year-on-Year: +4.5% (prior = +4.0%)

 

The above, yellow-highlighted percentages represent the month-to-month change in prices received by domestic producers of goods and services, for goods, services and construction in the United States, for final demand.

Final Demand = personal consumption (consumers), exports, government purchases and capital investment.
 
==============

CHART: Producer Price Index

  Final Demand (PPI-FD)
12-Month Percent Change
AUGUST 2026 Update

==============

• Click here to view the full Labor Department report.

============== 

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Consumer Price Index (CPI) for AUGUST 2026

The Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics released its Consumer Price Index (CPI) for August, 2026:

=========================================

CPI During August, 2026: 334.980

=========================================

Consumer Price Index (CPI); Headline

Predicted: +0.3%

->  Actual: +0.318% (+1.062 points)

• Year-on-Year Change: +3.4% (+11.004 points)

[Y-o-Y previous = +3.36%]

=========================================

CPI, Minus Food + Energy (Core CPI)

Predicted: +0.2%

 - > Actual: +0.27% (+0.908 point)

• Year-on-Year Change: +2.45% (+8.071 points)

[Y-o-Y previous = +2.48%]

=========================================

The above, yellow- and blue-highlighted figures represent month-to-month and year-on-year changes (not seasonally adjusted) in prices for a specific group of goods and services that consumers buy, and is, therefore, a very important part of the overall inflation picture for the country.

The "predicted" figure is what economists were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

General categories that constitute the CPI are:

• Healthcare
• Housing
• Clothing
• Communications
• Education
• Transportation
• Food and Beverages
• Recreation
• Miscellaneous Goods and Services (grooming expenses, etc.)

========================================

CPI During August, 2025: 323.976

=======================================

CHART: Consumer Price Index

12-Month Percentage Change
AUGUST 2026 Update

========================================

• Click here to view the full Labor Department report.
  

========================================

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Challenger Job Cuts Report for AUGUST 2026

The global outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray and Christmas, Inc. released its job cuts report, for AUGUST, 2026

-------------------------------

Job Cuts Announced During AUGUST, 2026: 52,881

• Previous Month: 33,429

  > Change from previous month: +58.19% (+19,452 cuts)

--------------

• One-Year Previous: 85,979

 > Change from one-year previous: -38.5% (-33,098 cuts)

===================

From Today's Report:

"...WHY ARE COMPANIES CUTTING?

Restructuring led all reasons for job cuts in August with 16,173 announced during the month, or 31%. It is the highest monthly restructuring since January’s 20,044, and the first month since February that Artificial Intelligence did not lead. So far this year, Restructuring has been cited in 73,649 job cut announcements.

Market and Economic Conditions followed for the month with 15,260 cuts for a total of 105,335. Closings accounted for 6,743 in August and 91,373 for the year.

Artificial Intelligence fell to the fourth-most cited reason with 3,462 cuts in August, its lowest monthly total since December 2025 when 142 cuts were attributed to AI. It ends a five-month run, beginning in March, in which AI was the leading monthly reason. So far this year, AI has been cited in 116,175 job cut announcements, approximately 22% of all cuts, and it remains the leading reason year-to-date..."

 ================

 

If corporate layoffs are high, consumer spending may decline, since there would be fewer people with steady jobs.

When corporate layoffs are low, this can mean that the job market is relatively tight, which can be a harbinger of wage inflation. 

================

Job Cuts - Month-by-Month Totals
AUGUST 2026 UPDATE
Copyright © Challenger, Gray and Christmas, Inc.

================

• Click here to read the full Challenger, Gray and Christmas report

=================

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Employment Situation Report for AUGUST 2026

The Employment Situation Report for August, 2026 was released by The Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics:

Nonfarm Payrolls (month-to-month change)
Actual: 162,000

Previous Month (revised): +21,000

One-Year Previous: -70,000

U-3 Unemployment Rate (Headline)
Actual: 4.1%
Previous Month: 4.1%
12-Months Previous: 4.3%

U-6 Unemployment Rate*
Actual: 7.7%
Previous Month: 7.9%
12-Months Previous: 8.1%

Average Hourly Earnings (month-to-month change)
Predicted: +0.3%
Actual: +0.27% (+$0.10)

Average Hourly Earnings (year-on-year change)
Predicted: +3.2%
Actual: +3.09% (+$1.13)

Average Weekly Earnings (month-to-month change)
Actual: +0.56% (+$7.20)

Average Weekly Earnings (year-on-year change)
Actual: +3.69% (+$46.20)

Civilian Labor Force Participation Rate: 61.6%
Previous Month: 61.4%
12-Months Previous: 62.3%

Average Weekly Hours: 34.4 hours
Previous Month: 34.3 hours
One-Year Previous: 34.2 hours

Economist, academics, central bankers and investors pay very close attention to the monthly Employment Situation report as it offers penetrating insight as to the current and near-future state of the overall U.S. economy. If a) Americans are earning more money and b) the economy is creating new jobs, this typically translates to more money being pumped into the economy (and vice versa.)

The "predicted" figure is what economists were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

===================

CHART: Civilian Unemployment Rate

AUGUST 2006 thru AUGUST 2026

   ===================

 

 * =  The U-6 Unemployment Rate is defined as:

"Total unemployed, plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force, plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force."

===================

• Click here to view the full Department of Labor report.

===================

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