NRSInsights’ April 2025 Retail Same-Store Sales Report

Rhea-AI Summary

NRSInsights reported strong retail performance for April 2025, with same-store sales increasing 4.3% year-over-year across its network of approximately 35,600 active POS terminals. The network, serving about 31,000 independent retailers, showed resilient consumer spending with units sold up 2.5% and transactions increasing 1.3% year-over-year. Average prices for top 500 items rose 2.3%, slightly higher than March's 2.1%. Notable growth was seen in alcoholic beverages, with Tequila showing double-digit growth and Ready-to-Drink Cocktails surging. Non-alcoholic beverages also performed well, led by Soft Drinks and Energy Drinks. The NRS platform processed $1.9 billion in sales (+17% YoY) across 133 million transactions in April 2025.

Positive

• Same-store sales increased 4.3% year-over-year and 0.6% month-over-month
• Units sold grew 2.5% year-over-year
• Transaction baskets increased 1.3% year-over-year
• Strong platform growth with $1.9 billion in sales, up 17% year-over-year
• Network expansion to 35,600 active terminals nationwide

Negative

• Units sold decreased 0.8% compared to previous month
• Average prices increased 2.3%, showing continued inflationary pressure
• NRS network's three-month moving average underperformed US Commerce Department's data by 1.6% in March

Insights

Retail Data Analyst

NRSInsights shows accelerating retail growth with 4.3% same-store sales increase and 17% transaction volume growth to $1.9B.

The April retail metrics from NRSInsights reveal notable acceleration in the independent retail sector served by IDT's National Retail Solutions (NRS) platform. Same-store sales increased 4.3% year-over-year, significantly outpacing March's 2.3% growth rate. This improvement suggests strengthening consumer spending in the urban-focused, independent retail segment.

What makes this report particularly compelling is the balanced nature of growth across multiple metrics. Unit sales rose 2.5% year-over-year while transactions increased 1.3%, indicating healthy consumer demand rather than growth driven solely by inflation. Speaking of inflation, prices for top items increased a modest 2.3%, only slightly higher than March's 2.1%.

The standout figure is the $1.9 billion in total transactions processed through NRS terminals in April, representing 17% year-over-year growth. This substantial difference between the 4.3% same-store growth and 17% overall transaction growth highlights NRS's successful network expansion to approximately 35,600 active terminals nationwide.

Category performance reveals strong momentum in beverages, with tequila and ready-to-drink cocktails showing double-digit growth in alcohol, while soft drinks and energy drinks led non-alcoholic categories. This pattern suggests evolving consumer preferences that favor convenience and premium options.

The comparative data showing NRS same-store sales outperforming U.S. Commerce Department retail figures by 0.5% on average over the past year underscores the resilience of this retail segment, though the March underperformance (by 1.6%) bears watching. April's strong showing helps offset this potential concern, demonstrating the continued relevance and growth of independent urban retailers in the broader retail landscape.

April same-store sales increased 4.3% year-over-year^*

NEWARK, N.J., May 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NRSInsights, a provider of sales data and analytics drawn from retail transactions processed through the National Retail Solutions (NRS) point-of-sale (POS) platform, today announced comparative retail same-store sales results for April 2025.

As of April 30, 2025, the NRS retail network comprised approximately 35,600 active terminals nationwide, scanning purchases at approximately 31,000 independent retailers including convenience stores, bodegas, liquor stores, grocers, and tobacco and sundries sellers, predominantly serving urban consumers.

April Highlights^*

(^*Same-store sales, unit sales, transactions, and average price data refer to April 2025 and are compared to April 2024 unless otherwise noted. All comparisons are provided on a “per calendar day” basis to remove from consideration variability in the number of days per month or three-month period.)

• SALES
  • Same-store sales increased 4.3% year-over-year. In the previous month (March 2025), same-store sales had increased 2.3% year-over-year.
  • Same-store sales increased 0.6% compared to the previous month (March 2025). Same-store sales in March 2025 had increased 5.3% compared to the previous month (February 2025).
  • For the three months ended April 30, 2025, same-store sales increased 2.8% compared to the corresponding three months a year ago.

• UNITS SOLD
  • Units sold increased 2.5% year-over-year. In the previous month (March 2025), units sold had increased 2.4% year-over-year.
  • Units sold decreased 0.8% compared to the previous month (March 2025). Units sold in March 2025 had increased 4.9% compared to the previous month (February 2025).
• BASKETS (TRANSACTIONS) PER STORE
  • Baskets increased 1.3% year-over-year. In the previous month (March 2025), baskets had increased 0.2% year-over-year.
  • Baskets increased 2.7% compared to the previous month (March 2025). Baskets in March 2025 had increased 6.2% compared to the previous month (February 2025).
• AVERAGE PRICES
  • A dollar-weighted average of prices for the top 500 items purchased increased 2.3% year-over-year, a higher rate of increase than the 2.1% year-over-year increase recorded in March 2025.

Retail Trade Comparative Data

The table below provides historical comparative data with the U.S. Commerce Department’s Advance Monthly Retail Trade same-store sales data excluding food service:

Over the past twelve months, the NRS network’s three-month moving average same-store sales have outpaced the US Commerce Department’s Advance Monthly Retail Trade data, excluding food services, by 0.5% on average. In March, however, the Department’s three-month rolling average increase exceeded the NRS network’s by 1.6%.

The NRSInsights data in the chart above have not been adjusted to reflect inflation, demographic distributions, seasonal buying patterns, item substitution, days per month, or other factors that may facilitate comparisons to other periods, to other same-store retail sales data, or to the U.S. Commerce Department’s retail data.

Commentary from Brandon Thurber (VP, Data Sales at NRS)

“NRS same-store-sales increased 4.3% year over year, and 0.6% sequentially, highlighting the resiliency of consumer spending. Inflation as gauged on our largest selling items remained subdued at 2.3%, though ticking up from 2.1% in March.

“The April same-store sales increase was driven by strong momentum across both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage categories.

“On the alcoholic beverage side, Tequila continued to grow at double digits year-over-year, and Ready-to-Drink Cocktails also surged—cementing its place as a major growth engine in the alcohol space. The Beer category also registered broad-based gains, with Traditional Beer, Flavored Malt Beverages (FMBs)/Cider/Seltzer, and Non-Alcoholic (NA) Beer all contributing.

“On the NA beverage side, Soft Drinks and Energy Drinks led the way. Sports Drinks saw a slight dip, as sales shifted toward hydration alternatives including Sparkling Water, Coconut Water, and Seltzer.

“Candy sales were flat overall, with Chocolate on the rise even, led by multi-serve packs as other confections declined.”

NRSInsights Reports

The NRSInsights monthly Same-Store Retail Sales Reports are intended to provide timely topline data reflective of sales at NRS’ network of independent, predominantly urban, retail stores.

Same-store data comparisons of April 2025 with April 2024 are derived from approximately 207 million transactions processed through the approximately 21,900 stores on the NRS network that scanned transactions in both months. Same-store data comparisons of April 2025 with March 2025 are derived from approximately 261 million transactions processed through approximately 29,900 stores.

Same-store data comparisons for the three months ended April 30, 2025 with the year-ago three months are derived from approximately 574 million scanned transactions processed through those stores that scanned transactions in both three-month periods.

NRS POS Platform

The NRS platform predominantly serves small-format, independent, retail stores nationwide including convenience stores, bodegas, liquor stores, grocers, and tobacco and sundries sellers. These independent retailers operate in all 50 states as well as the District of Columbia, and in 204 of the 210 designated market areas (DMAs) in the United States. During April 2025, NRS’ POS terminals processed $1.9 billion in sales (+17% year-over-year) across 133 million transactions.

About National Retail Solutions (NRS):

National Retail Solutions operates the largest point-of-sale (POS) terminal-based platform and digital payment processing service for independent retailers nationwide. Retailers utilize NRS offerings to process transactions and effectively manage their businesses. Consumer packaged goods (CPG) suppliers, brokers, analytics firms, and advertisers access the terminal’s digital display network to reach these retailers’ predominantly urban, multi-cultural shopper base, and to harness transaction data-based learnings to identify growth opportunities and measure execution and returns on marketing investment. NRS is a subsidiary of IDT Corporation (NYSE: IDT).

All statements above that are not purely about historical facts, including, but not limited to, those in which we use the words “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate,” “target” and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. While these forward-looking statements represent our current judgment of what may happen in the future, actual results may differ materially from the results expressed or implied by these statements due to numerous important factors. Our filings with the SEC provide detailed information on such statements and risks, and should be consulted along with this release. To the extent permitted under applicable law, IDT assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

NRSInsights Contact:
Brandon Thurber
VP, Data Sales & Client Success at NRS
National Retail Solutions
Brandon.Thurber@nrsplus.com

IDT Corporation Contact:
Bill Ulrey
william.ulrey@idt.net

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FAQ

What was IDT's NRSInsights same-store sales growth in April 2025?

NRSInsights reported a 4.3% year-over-year increase in same-store sales for April 2025.

How many active terminals does NRSInsights have in its retail network?

As of April 30, 2025, NRSInsights' retail network comprised approximately 35,600 active terminals nationwide.

What was the total transaction value processed by NRS POS terminals in April 2025?

NRS POS terminals processed $1.9 billion in sales across 133 million transactions in April 2025, representing a 17% increase year-over-year.

What were the best-performing beverage categories in NRSInsights' April 2025 report?

Tequila showed double-digit growth, Ready-to-Drink Cocktails surged, and in non-alcoholic beverages, Soft Drinks and Energy Drinks led the growth.

How did average prices change in NRSInsights' April 2025 report?

Average prices for the top 500 items increased 2.3% year-over-year, higher than the 2.1% increase recorded in March 2025.