NRSInsights’ August 2026 Retail Same-Store Sales Report

August data show weaker same-store sales and traffic at NRS-tracked independent retailers, while measured price inflation remains steady at 1.7% year-over-year.

Rhea-AI Summary

NRSInsights (IDT) reports that August 2026 same-store retail sales across its POS network decreased 1.1% year-over-year, while average prices for the top 500 items rose 1.7%.

Same-store sales fell 1.8% versus July 2026, but increased 1.5% for the three months ended August 31, 2026 compared with the prior-year period. Units sold declined 1.6% year-over-year and were flat month-over-month, while baskets (transactions per store) decreased 3.1% year-over-year and 0.4% versus July. Inflation in NRS’ basket, as measured by top-selling items, was 1.7%, unchanged from July.

As of August 31, 2026, the NRS network included about 40,200 active terminals at 34,800 predominantly urban independent retailers. In August 2026, NRS POS terminals processed approximately $2.3 billion in sales across 155 million transactions, with roughly 254 million transactions and 26,200 stores contributing to the August year-over-year same-store comparisons.

Positive

• Three-month same-store sales up 1.5% for period ended August 31, 2026 versus prior year
• Price inflation on top 500 items at 1.7% year-over-year, unchanged from July 2026
• Network scale of about 40,200 active terminals at 34,800 independent retailers as of August 31, 2026
• Transaction volume of approximately $2.3 billion in sales across 155 million transactions in August 2026

Negative

• August 2026 same-store sales down 1.1% year-over-year
• Month-over-month same-store sales down 1.8% versus July 2026
• Units sold down 1.6% year-over-year in August 2026
• Baskets per store down 3.1% year-over-year and 0.4% versus July 2026
• Regional softness led by Washington DC area, with South and West generally under-performing

Market Context

The July 2026 same-store sales report recorded a -0.35% 24-hour price reaction; that directly compar...

Analysis

The July 2026 same-store sales report recorded a -0.35% 24-hour price reaction; that directly comparable monthly retail KPI report provided the nearest historical market reference for this August update.

Key Figures

Same-store sales: -1.1% Same-store sales: 1.5% Units sold: -1.6% +3 more

Same-store sales

-1.1%

August 2026 year-over-year

Same-store sales

1.5%

Three months ended August 31, 2026 versus prior-year period

Units sold

-1.6%

August 2026 year-over-year

Baskets per store

-3.1%

August 2026 year-over-year

Average price

1.7%

Top 500 items, August 2026 year-over-year

Same-store comparison transactions

Approximately 254 million transactions

August 2026 versus August 2025

Historical Context

1 past event · Latest: Aug 10

1 event

1. Aug 10

   Same-store sales report

   24h Move

   -0.3%

   July same-store sales rose while units and baskets declined

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

same-store sales, point-of-sale, dollar-weighted average, consumer packaged goods

4 terms

same-store sales financial

"August same-store sales decreased 1.1% year-over-year"

Same-store sales measure the revenue generated by stores that have been open for a certain period, typically a year, comparing their sales over different time frames. It helps assess whether a business is growing due to increased customer activity at existing locations rather than new stores. For investors, this figure indicates the health and performance of a company's core operations, independent of expansion efforts.

point-of-sale technical

"retail transactions processed through the National Retail Solutions (NRS) point-of-sale"

The point-of-sale is the place and moment where a customer completes a purchase — think of the checkout counter, card reader, or online checkout page. It includes the hardware and software that record the sale, accept payment, and update inventory and sales records. Investors care because POS systems drive revenue collection, customer data, and operational efficiency; outages, fees, or weak data from POS can directly affect sales, margins and forecasts.

dollar-weighted average financial

"A dollar-weighted average of prices for the top 500 items"

An average that gives each observation weight proportional to its dollar value, so larger monetary amounts count more than smaller ones. For example, when calculating an average price or return, transactions with bigger dollar size tilt the result more than small trades. It matters to investors because it shows the typical experience of the money actually invested—where most dollars are concentrated—rather than treating every item or trade equally.

consumer packaged goods technical

"Consumer packaged goods (CPG) suppliers, brokers, analytics firms"

Everyday items that people buy frequently and replace often—such as food, beverages, toiletries, and household cleaners—sold in ready-to-purchase packaging at stores or online. Investors care because these goods tend to have steady demand and predictable sales, so brand strength, pricing power, distribution and supply-chain efficiency determine profitability; thinking of them like staples in a household pantry helps explain their steady, often defensive role in a portfolio.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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August same-store sales decreased 1.1% year-over-year 

The average price paid for the top 500 items in August increased 1.7% year-over-year

NEWARK, N.J., Sept. 09, 2026 (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 August 2026.

As of August 31, 2026, the NRS retail network comprised approximately 40,200 active terminals nationwide, scanning purchases at approximately 34,800 independent retailers, including convenience stores, bodegas, liquor stores, grocers, and tobacco and sundries sellers, predominantly serving urban consumers.

August Highlights

(Same-store sales, unit sales, transactions, and average price data refer to August 2026 and are compared to August 2025 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 decreased 1.1% year-over-year. In the previous month (July 2026), same-store sales increased 3.3% year-over-year.

Same-store sales decreased 1.8% compared to the previous month (July 2026). Same-store sales in July 2026 increased 0.2% compared to the previous month (June 2026). For the three months ended August 31, 2026, same-store sales increased 1.5% compared to the corresponding three months a year ago.

• UNITS SOLD
  • Units sold decreased 1.6% year-over-year. In the previous month (July 2026), units sold decreased 0.7% year over year.
  • Units sold were unchanged compared to the previous month (July 2026). Units sold in July 2026 decreased 0.5% compared to the previous month (June 2026).
• BASKETS (TRANSACTIONS) PER STORE
  • Baskets decreased 3.1% year-over-year. In the previous month (July 2026), baskets decreased 1.1% year-over-year.
  • Baskets decreased 0.4% compared to the previous month (July 2026). Baskets in July 2026 decreased 1.0% compared to the previous month (June 2026).
• AVERAGE PRICES
  • A dollar-weighted average of prices for the top 500 items purchased in July 2026 increased 1.7% year-over-year. In July, prices also increased 1.7% year over year.

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

“Same-store sales in August 2026 decreased 1.1% compared to August 2025. In July, sales had increased 3.3% year-over-year. Units sold and baskets sold both decreased in August for the second consecutive month. Despite the overall drop, sales of performance beverages, prepared cocktails, wine-based cocktails and hydration beverages saw robust increases. Inflation, as measured by the relative prices of our top selling items, was 1.7% - unchanged from July’s level.

“Regionally, sales in the Washington DC metropolitan area led the sales decline. Stores in the South and West regions generally under-performed, with the notable exception of the Raleigh-Durham metro area, while the Midwest and Great Lakes regions trended above average.”

NRSInsights Reports

The NRSInsights monthly Retail Same-Store 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 August 2026 with August 2025 are derived from approximately 254 million transactions processed through the approximately 26,200 stores on the NRS network that scanned transactions in both months. Same-store data comparisons of August 2026 with July 2026 are derived from approximately 303 million transactions processed through approximately 33,800 stores.

Same-store data comparisons for the three months ended August 31, 2026 with the year-ago three months are derived from approximately 728 million transactions processed through 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 and the District of Colombia, including 206 of the 210 designated market areas (DMAs) in the United States, and in several Canadian markets. During August 2026, NRS’ POS terminals processed $2.3 billion in sales across 155 million transactions.

About National Retail Solutions (NRS):

National Retail Solutions operates a leading point-of-sale (POS) terminal-based platform and digital payment processing service for independent retailers nationwide. Retailers utilize NRS offerings to process transactions, effectively manage their businesses, and integrate with leading online order and delivery platforms. 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 both 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

How does NRSInsights construct its August 2026 same-store sales comparisons?

Same-store data comparing August 2026 with August 2025 are based on approximately 254 million transactions from about 26,200 stores that scanned transactions in both months. Comparisons of August 2026 with July 2026 use roughly 303 million transactions from about 33,800 stores, and three-month comparisons use around 728 million transactions from stores active in both three-month periods. All comparisons are calculated on a per calendar day basis to remove variability in the number of days per month or period.

Which product categories performed better despite the overall August sales decline?

The company reports that, despite weaker overall results, performance beverages, prepared cocktails, wine-based cocktails, and hydration beverages experienced robust sales increases in August 2026.

Which regions under-performed or out-performed in August 2026?

The Washington DC metropolitan area led the sales decline. Stores in the South and West generally under-performed, with the Raleigh-Durham metro area noted as an exception, while the Midwest and Great Lakes regions trended above average, according to the company.

What types of retailers are included in the NRS POS network underlying these metrics?

The NRS platform predominantly serves small-format, independent retail stores, including convenience stores, bodegas, liquor stores, grocers, and tobacco and sundries sellers. These stores operate in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, across 206 of 210 U.S. designated market areas, and in several Canadian markets.

What is the purpose of the NRSInsights monthly Retail Same-Store Sales Reports?

The NRSInsights monthly reports are intended to provide timely topline data that reflect sales performance at NRS’ network of independent, predominantly urban retail stores, using transaction data captured through its POS terminals.