Data / Rankings / Retail sales excluding nonstore retailers, change from a year earlier / US states

US states by retail sales excluding nonstore retailers, change from a year earlier

New York had the highest retail sales excluding nonstore retailers, change from a year earlier of 51 states in May 2026, at 11.5%. Alaska had the lowest, at -11.6%. The median was 5.4% and the figure for the United States was 5.1%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest11.5New York
Lowest-11.6Alaska
Median5.451 states
United States5.1History

Map of states, May 2026

Alabama: 5.5 %Alaska: -11.6 %Arizona: 5.2 %Arkansas: 6 %California: 2.4 %Colorado: 3.7 %Connecticut: 7 %Delaware: 6.1 %District of Columbia: 2 %Florida: 4 %Georgia: 4.9 %Hawaii: 0.9 %Idaho: 4.8 %Illinois: 5.4 %Indiana: 4.6 %Iowa: 8.3 %Kansas: 4.3 %Kentucky: 5.6 %Louisiana: 8.5 %Maine: 4.9 %Maryland: 5.6 %Massachusetts: 6.8 %Michigan: 2.8 %Minnesota: 7 %Mississippi: 6.3 %Missouri: 6.7 %Montana: 7.3 %Nebraska: 5.4 %Nevada: 2.1 %New Hampshire: 5 %New Jersey: 7.2 %New Mexico: 7 %New York: 11.5 %North Carolina: 6.9 %North Dakota: 4 %Ohio: 5.1 %Oklahoma: 7.8 %Oregon: 2.7 %Pennsylvania: 3.8 %Rhode Island: 5.4 %South Carolina: 7.4 %South Dakota: 7 %Tennessee: 7.2 %Texas: 5.2 %Utah: 4.6 %Vermont: 8.4 %Virginia: 5 %Washington: 2.7 %West Virginia: 10.9 %Wisconsin: 6.8 %Wyoming: 4.6 %
  • Under 0
  • 0 to 4.9
  • 4.9 to 6.8
  • 6.8 and over
%, May 2026. Red areas are below zero and blue areas above it. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Monthly State Retail Sales (MSRS, experimental), not adjusted state retail sales year-over-year percentage changes (state_retail_yy.csv), total retail sales excluding nonstore retailers. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All states, May 2026

New York: 11.5 %New York11.5West Virginia: 10.9 %West Virginia10.9Louisiana: 8.5 %Louisiana8.5Vermont: 8.4 %Vermont8.4Iowa: 8.3 %Iowa8.3Oklahoma: 7.8 %Oklahoma7.8South Carolina: 7.4 %South Carolina7.4Montana: 7.3 %Montana7.3New Jersey: 7.2 %New Jersey7.2Tennessee: 7.2 %Tennessee7.2Connecticut: 7 %Connecticut7Minnesota: 7 %Minnesota7New Mexico: 7 %New Mexico7South Dakota: 7 %South Dakota7North Carolina: 6.9 %North Carolina6.9Massachusetts: 6.8 %Massachusetts6.8Wisconsin: 6.8 %Wisconsin6.8Missouri: 6.7 %Missouri6.7Mississippi: 6.3 %Mississippi6.3Delaware: 6.1 %Delaware6.1Arkansas: 6 %Arkansas6Kentucky: 5.6 %Kentucky5.6Maryland: 5.6 %Maryland5.6Alabama: 5.5 %Alabama5.5Illinois: 5.4 %Illinois5.4Nebraska: 5.4 %Nebraska5.4Rhode Island: 5.4 %Rhode Island5.4Arizona: 5.2 %Arizona5.2Texas: 5.2 %Texas5.2Ohio: 5.1 %Ohio5.1New Hampshire: 5 %New Hampshire5Virginia: 5 %Virginia5Georgia: 4.9 %Georgia4.9Maine: 4.9 %Maine4.9Idaho: 4.8 %Idaho4.8Indiana: 4.6 %Indiana4.6Utah: 4.6 %Utah4.6Wyoming: 4.6 %Wyoming4.6Kansas: 4.3 %Kansas4.3Florida: 4 %Florida4North Dakota: 4 %North Dakota4Pennsylvania: 3.8 %Pennsylvania3.8Colorado: 3.7 %Colorado3.7Michigan: 2.8 %Michigan2.8Oregon: 2.7 %Oregon2.7Washington: 2.7 %Washington2.7California: 2.4 %California2.4Nevada: 2.1 %Nevada2.1District of Columbia: 2 %District of Columbia2Hawaii: 0.9 %Hawaii0.9Alaska: -11.6 %Alaska-11.6New York: 11.5 %New York11.5West Virginia: 10.9 %West Virginia10.9Louisiana: 8.5 %Louisiana8.5Vermont: 8.4 %Vermont8.4Iowa: 8.3 %Iowa8.3Oklahoma: 7.8 %Oklahoma7.8South Carolina: 7.4 %South Carolina7.4Montana: 7.3 %Montana7.3New Jersey: 7.2 %New Jersey7.2Tennessee: 7.2 %Tennessee7.2Connecticut: 7 %Connecticut7Minnesota: 7 %Minnesota7New Mexico: 7 %New Mexico7South Dakota: 7 %South Dakota7North Carolina: 6.9 %North Carolina6.9Massachusetts: 6.8 %Massachusetts6.8Wisconsin: 6.8 %Wisconsin6.8Missouri: 6.7 %Missouri6.7Mississippi: 6.3 %Mississippi6.3Delaware: 6.1 %Delaware6.1Arkansas: 6 %Arkansas6Kentucky: 5.6 %Kentucky5.6Maryland: 5.6 %Maryland5.6Alabama: 5.5 %Alabama5.5Illinois: 5.4 %Illinois5.4Nebraska: 5.4 %Nebraska5.4Rhode Island: 5.4 %Rhode Island5.4Arizona: 5.2 %Arizona5.2Texas: 5.2 %Texas5.2Ohio: 5.1 %Ohio5.1New Hampshire: 5 %New Hampshire5Virginia: 5 %Virginia5Georgia: 4.9 %Georgia4.9Maine: 4.9 %Maine4.9Idaho: 4.8 %Idaho4.8Indiana: 4.6 %Indiana4.6Utah: 4.6 %Utah4.6Wyoming: 4.6 %Wyoming4.6Kansas: 4.3 %Kansas4.3Florida: 4 %Florida4North Dakota: 4 %North Dakota4Pennsylvania: 3.8 %Pennsylvania3.8Colorado: 3.7 %Colorado3.7Michigan: 2.8 %Michigan2.8Oregon: 2.7 %Oregon2.7Washington: 2.7 %Washington2.7California: 2.4 %California2.4Nevada: 2.1 %Nevada2.1District of Columbia: 2 %District of Columbia2Hawaii: 0.9 %Hawaii0.9Alaska: -11.6 %Alaska-11.6
%. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Monthly State Retail Sales (MSRS, experimental), not adjusted state retail sales year-over-year percentage changes (state_retail_yy.csv), total retail sales excluding nonstore retailers. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankStatesMay 2026 (%)Change on May 2025
1New York11.5+13 pts
2West Virginia10.9+11.2 pts
3Louisiana8.5+7 pts
4Vermont8.4+8.1 pts
5Iowa8.3+5 pts
6Oklahoma7.8+5.5 pts
7South Carolina7.4+6.4 pts
8Montana7.3+6.1 pts
9New Jersey7.2+6.8 pts
9Tennessee7.2+5.7 pts
11Connecticut7+6.9 pts
11Minnesota7+4.6 pts
11New Mexico7+5 pts
11South Dakota7+4.8 pts
15North Carolina6.9+6.3 pts
16Massachusetts6.8+6.8 pts
16Wisconsin6.8+4.9 pts
18Missouri6.7+4.3 pts
19Mississippi6.3+4.3 pts
20Delaware6.1+5.4 pts
21Arkansas6+2 pts
22Kentucky5.6+3.9 pts
22Maryland5.6+6.3 pts
24Alabama5.5+3.2 pts
25Illinois5.4+3.8 pts
25Nebraska5.4+2.5 pts
25Rhode Island5.4+4.7 pts
28Arizona5.2+1.9 pts
28Texas5.2+2.2 pts
30Ohio5.1+4.6 pts
31New Hampshire5+4 pts
31Virginia5+5 pts
33Georgia4.9+3.5 pts
33Maine4.9+4.5 pts
35Idaho4.8+0.3 pts
36Indiana4.6+2.7 pts
36Utah4.6+0.3 pts
36Wyoming4.6-0.3 pts
39Kansas4.3+3.6 pts
40Florida4+3.7 pts
40North Dakota4+0.3 pts
42Pennsylvania3.8+3.5 pts
43Colorado3.7+1.5 pts
44Michigan2.8+1.3 pts
45Oregon2.7-0.1 pts
45Washington2.7+0.6 pts
47California2.4-0.6 pts
48Nevada2.1-4.9 pts
49District of Columbia2-0.9 pts
50Hawaii0.9-17.6 pts
51Alaska-11.6-10.2 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

Percent change in retail sales from the same month a year earlier, for retail trade (NAICS 44 and 45) excluding nonstore retailers such as online sellers, not seasonally adjusted and not adjusted for price changes. Census Bureau Monthly State Retail Sales, an experimental product.

Experimental statistics: Census models these figures by blending Monthly Retail Trade Survey data with administrative and third-party data, and plans to keep changing the method. Each estimate has a margin of error (the national April 2026 change was 3.5 percent, plus or minus 0.4). Sales are counted where the store is, so states with many online buyers can look weaker than their residents' spending. Census publishes changes only, not sales in dollars. Figures are revised when the Monthly Retail Trade Survey is benchmarked.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the states are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. Monthly State Retail Sales (MSRS, experimental), not adjusted state retail sales year-over-year percentage changes (state_retail_yy.csv), total retail sales excluding nonstore retailers. https://www.census.gov/retail/mrts/www/statedata/state_retail_yy.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). Monthly State Retail Sales (MSRS, experimental), not adjusted state retail sales year-over-year percentage changes (state_retail_yy.csv), total retail sales excluding nonstore retailers (US states by retail sales excluding nonstore retailers, change from a year earlier, 2026-05) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www.census.gov/retail/mrts/www/statedata/state_retail_yy.csv

MLA 9

Monthly State Retail Sales (MSRS, experimental), not adjusted state retail sales year-over-year percentage changes (state_retail_yy.csv), total retail sales excluding nonstore retailers, US states by retail sales excluding nonstore retailers, change from a year earlier, 2026-05. U.S. Census Bureau, 24 Sept. 2026, https://www.census.gov/retail/mrts/www/statedata/state_retail_yy.csv. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/state-retail-sales-year-over-year-change/us-states?period=2026-05. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. Monthly State Retail Sales (MSRS, experimental), not adjusted state retail sales year-over-year percentage changes (state_retail_yy.csv), total retail sales excluding nonstore retailers. US states by retail sales excluding nonstore retailers, change from a year earlier, 2026-05. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www.census.gov/retail/mrts/www/statedata/state_retail_yy.csv. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/state-retail-sales-year-over-year-change/us-states?period=2026-05.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) Monthly State Retail Sales (MSRS, experimental), not adjusted state retail sales year-over-year percentage changes (state_retail_yy.csv), total retail sales excluding nonstore retailers, US states by retail sales excluding nonstore retailers, change from a year earlier, 2026-05 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www.census.gov/retail/mrts/www/statedata/state_retail_yy.csv, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/state-retail-sales-year-over-year-change/us-states?period=2026-05 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_us_states_by_retail_2026,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{Monthly State Retail Sales (MSRS, experimental), not adjusted state retail sales year-over-year percentage changes (state\_retail\_yy.csv), total retail sales excluding nonstore retailers: US states by retail sales excluding nonstore retailers, change from a year earlier, 2026-05}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www.census.gov/retail/mrts/www/statedata/state_retail_yy.csv},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/state-retail-sales-year-over-year-change/us-states?period=2026-05. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Monthly State Retail Sales (MSRS, experimental), not adjusted state retail sales year-over-year percentage changes (state\_retail\_yy.csv), total retail sales excluding nonstore retailers. https://www.census.gov/retail/mrts/www/statedata/state\_retail\_yy.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - Monthly State Retail Sales (MSRS, experimental), not adjusted state retail sales year-over-year percentage changes (state_retail_yy.csv), total retail sales excluding nonstore retailers: US states by retail sales excluding nonstore retailers, change from a year earlier, 2026-05
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/24
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www.census.gov/retail/mrts/www/statedata/state_retail_yy.csv
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/state-retail-sales-year-over-year-change/us-states?period=2026-05
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/state-retail-sales-year-over-year-change/us-states?period=2026-05.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Monthly State Retail Sales (MSRS, experimental), not adjusted state retail sales year-over-year percentage changes (state_retail_yy.csv), total retail sales excluding nonstore retailers. https://www.census.gov/retail/mrts/www/statedata/state_retail_yy.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which state has the highest retail sales excluding nonstore retailers, change from a year earlier?

New York, with 11.5% in May 2026, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which state has the lowest retail sales excluding nonstore retailers, change from a year earlier?

Alaska, with -11.6% in May 2026.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, Monthly State Retail Sales (MSRS, experimental), not adjusted state retail sales year-over-year percentage changes (state_retail_yy.csv), total retail sales excluding nonstore retailers. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

US states: more rankings