Census Bureau

“Americans filed 5.6 million new business applications last year”

“unadjusted monthly figures show a 0.9% rise”

“Year-over-year sales are up 5.2%”

“In July, total retail sales were up 5.2% from last year, climbing from $777.6 billion to $784.6 billion”

“or 4.9% excluding automobiles and gas stations”

“Higher gas prices elevated gas station sales by 16% for the month”

“restaurant sales rose 5.9% in July”

“Through the first seven months of 2026, retail sales are up 5.2% to $5.2 trillion”

“at this point last year, sales grew 4.1% to $4.95 trillion”

“Inflation—3.4% today versus 2.7% a year ago”

“once inflation is removed in both periods, this year’s 1.8% real growth outpaces last year’s 1.4%”

“home furnishings retailers—the only retail segment that is trailing 2025, down nearly 2%”

“Some 13% of BTC spending will go toward outfitting dorm rooms”

“The largest share of both BTS and BTC spending will be tech-driven—34% and 27% respectively”

“Electronic stores, up 6.4% this year”

“non-store retailers, up 10.2%”

“general merchandisers, running 3.3% ahead of last year”

“Clothing and accessories retailers will also get a boost during the season. They are already up 5.8% year to date”

“department stores have begun to reverse years of declines with a modest 0.1% increase so far this year”

“Retail sales in that segment are up 10.4% year-to-date”

“BTS and BTC will add $146.3 billion to the retail economy, up from $128.2 billion last year—a striking 14% uptick”

“consumer budgets for every major shopping event so far this year, except for graduations, are running ahead of 2025, including a 14% increase for both Mother’s and Father’s Day”

“current savings rate is nearing record lows at 3%—far below the long-term average of 8.4%”

“In 2024, roughly 2.7 million foreign migrants entered the U.S., according to the Census Bureau. This year, census experts predict that number could drop as low as 300,000. ... Population growth in th…”

“In 2024, roughly 2.7 million foreign migrants entered the U.S., according to the Census Bureau.”

“The Census Bureau estimates that without robust migration in the coming years, total population loss by the end of this century could exceed 107 million people.”