Consumers Keep Spending Even as Confidence Wavers

Retail sales in February came in stronger than anticipated, offering a measure of reassurance that consumer activity continues to support the broader economy even as underlying pressures remain unresolved.

Advance estimates from the Census Bureau show retail and food services sales rose 0.6% from January to $738.4 billion, with a 3.7% increase from a year earlier.

The figures extend a pattern of steady, if unspectacular, expansion that has characterized the opening months of 2026.

Yet the significance of the data lies less in the top-line number than in what it confirms about the relationship between sentiment and spending.

PYMNTS Intelligence research indicates that consumer attitudes translate into purchasing behavior only when households believe they have the financial capacity to act. That distinction helps explain why spending has remained intact even as confidence measures appear mixed.

Sentiment Translates Into Spending Capacity

The PYMNTS Consumer Expectations Index reframes sentiment as a functional measure rather than a simple expression of optimism.

It combines perceptions of financial resilience, macroeconomic outlook and labor stability into a single score that signals whether households feel able to spend, not merely inclined to do so.

The February retail data aligns with that framework. Consumers are continuing to transact because, in many cases, they view their balance sheets as stable enough to support ongoing purchases. This is consistent with PYMNTS findings that expectations drive spending only when households believe they can absorb financial shocks and meet obligations. February’s results suggest that, for a significant share of consumers, those two elements remain sufficiently aligned.

Resilience Holds, but Confidence Is Uneven

PYMNTS Intelligence data presents a more nuanced view of that resilience. Consumers report strong confidence in their ability to manage debt, yet their assessment of current financial conditions remains closer to neutral. This divergence suggests that spending is being sustained through careful balance-sheet management rather than broad-based income growth.

The dispersion across income segments is more pronounced. Consumers who are not living paycheck to paycheck report expectations scores in the low 60s, indicating a constructive outlook. Those struggling to meet monthly expenses remain well below neutral, with scores in the low 40s.

February Spending Shows Broad, Uneven Strength

Against that backdrop, February’s retail performance shows both durability and selectivity.

Discretionary categories recorded notable gains. Clothing sales rose 2% month over month and stood more than 7% higher than a year earlier, while health and personal care increased 2.3%.

Motor vehicle sales advanced 1.2% on the month, reflecting continued willingness to commit to larger purchases.

Non-store retailers, a proxy for eCommerce activity, maintained steady growth, rising 0.7% month over month and 7.5% year over year.

That trajectory suggests digital channels remain central to consumer behavior even as overall spending patterns evolve.

At the same time, weaker categories point to constraints. Furniture and home furnishings declined both month over month and year over year, indicating reduced appetite for household-related expenditures. Department stores posted a monthly rebound but remain below year-ago levels, reflecting ongoing structural shifts pertaining to just where people shop.

Food Spending Reflects Mixed Signals

Food-related categories offer a more complex signal. Grocery store sales declined 1% in February, while food services and drinking places rose 0.4% on the month and more than 5% year over year.

The divergence suggests a shift in how consumers allocate food spending rather than a simple contraction. Dining out appears to retain momentum, while grocery purchases show some retrenchment. This pattern may reflect both price sensitivity and evolving preferences.

March May Provide a Clearer Test

February’s data, while constructive, does not yet capture the full impact of rising fuel costs. That factor is likely to exert pressure on household budgets in March, potentially altering spending patterns.

PYMNTS Intelligence data indicates that current resilience is supported by financial management rather than broad income expansion. As a result, consumers may have limited capacity to absorb additional cost pressures without adjusting behavior.  The February report therefore represents a moment in which sentiment and spending remain aligned, but not without tension.