October retail sales showed positive growth, with total sales reaching $718.9 billion, marking a 0.4% increase from September and a 2.8% rise year-over-year. Specific segments reported similar trends, with non-store retailers, including e-commerce, rising by 7.0% annually. The National Retail Federation (NRF) noted core retail sales remained flat month-over-month but increased 5.4% annually. NRF’s holiday sales forecast anticipates a growth of 2.5%-3.5%. Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz remarked that early holiday shopping and falling energy prices contributed to increased consumer spending.

Source: https://www.logisticsmgmt.com/article/october_retail_sales_see_gains_reports_commerce_and_nrf/