U.S. Retail Sales Rise 1.7% in March 2026, Boosted by Gas Prices, Tax Refunds and Weather

U.S. 7% in March 2026 from February 2026, driven primarily by higher gas prices stemming from the Iran war, according to a Commerce Department report released on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. 7% increase.

6% in March 2026, with @ABC reporting that this gain was supported by government tax refunds and warm weather. 5% in March 2026, reflecting a spike in gas prices due to the Iran war. 2% rise.

Online retailers recorded a 1% increase in sales for March 2026. 1% gain, the only services category included in the report, which @ABC noted offers a partial view of consumer spending excluding areas like travel and hotels. The Iran war, now in its eighth week as of April 21, 2026, began on February 28, 2026, and has shut down the Strait of Hormuz, cutting off one-fifth of the world's oil supply.

This shutdown has contributed to the spike in gas prices captured in the March retail data. U.S. Navy attacked and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship on April 19, 2026. In a separate incident on the same day, eight children were fatally shot in a domestic violence incident in Louisiana, according to police.

Navy would blockade the Strait of Hormuz. More recently, two hours before April 21, 2026, President Trump stated that Iran had violated the ceasefire multiple times. The Commerce Department's report marks the first snapshot of consumer spending to fully capture the effects of the Iran war, as detailed by @ABC.