NRSInsights' February 2026 Retail Same-Store Sales Report
MWN-AI** Summary
NRSInsights has released its Retail Same-Store Sales Report for February 2026, highlighting a year-over-year increase in same-store sales of 4%, reflecting a consistent growth trajectory despite a prior month peak of 5.8% in January. The report analyzes sales data across approximately 38,700 POS terminals in 33,600 stores, providing a comprehensive view of retail performance as seasonal influences normalize post-December.
In February, the average price of the top 500 items saw a notable rise of 2.7%, a rebound from January's more subdued increase of 1.2%. This surge in pricing indicates inflationary trends affecting consumer goods, which have intensified after a period of decline. Conversely, units sold declined slightly by 0.2% year-over-year, showcasing a challenging environment for volume sales, even as unit transactions revealed promising growth compared to the previous month.
The data reveals behavioral shifts in consumer spending, particularly within convenience categories such as cigarettes and energy beverages, which contributed significantly to the sales uptick. Regionally, Midwestern cities, especially Chicago and Detroit, exhibited stronger sales growth compared to a slowdown observed along the East Coast, underscoring the impact of local market conditions.
Out of approximately 196 million transactions analyzed for same-store sales, the report indicates a relative stability in the retail sector during a challenging environment, aided by effective sales strategies and a commitment to understanding consumer behavior. NRS's ability to capture and analyze retailer data remains crucial for informing business decisions in a rapidly evolving market landscape, reinforcing the significance of their POS platform in facilitating real-time transaction insights for independent retailers across the U.S. and Canada.
MWN-AI** Analysis
In its February 2026 Retail Same-Store Sales Report, NRSInsights reported a year-over-year increase of 4% in same-store sales, a sign that demand remains robust within the independent retail sector. However, this figure reflects a slight deceleration from the 5.8% increase seen in January 2026, indicative of seasonal adjustments post-holiday shopping and the potential impact of inflation on consumer purchasing behavior.
One key takeaway is the noticeable rise in the average prices of goods, which increased by 2.7% in February—up from 1.2% in January. This suggests that while sales are up, cost pressures are also rising, potentially affecting margins for retailers. Investors should monitor how these inflationary trends influence consumer spending moving forward, especially in categories like convenience items, where demand remains steady.
Unit sales saw a slight decline of 0.2% year-over-year, which, when coupled with the decrease in average baskets per store, indicates that while consumers are spending more per transaction, they may not be buying more items overall. This shift could signal a strategic adjustment in inventory management for retailers, emphasizing the need to refine product offerings to align with consumer preferences.
Regionally, the data shows that Midwestern markets, such as Chicago and Detroit, outperformed others, suggesting a necessary focus for retailers looking to optimize their geographical strategies. In contrast, lower sales growth on the East Coast could raise concerns over economic conditions in those areas, warranting a tailored approach in marketing or product positioning.
In conclusion, while the overall sales growth narrative appears positive, the underlying challenges of inflation and shifting consumer behavior must be addressed. Retailers should prepare for potential volatility by diversifying product ranges and closely monitoring regional performance metrics to navigate this dynamic environment effectively.
**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.
February same-store sales increased 4% year-over-year
The average price paid for the top 500 items in February increased 2.7% year-over-year
NEWARK, N.J., March 12, 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 February 2026.
As of February 28, 2026, the NRS retail network comprised approximately 38,700 active terminals across 33,600 stores, reflecting the expected normalization from seasonal retailers following the year-end cycle alongside continued year-over-year expansion of the core independent retail base.
February Highlights
(Same-store sales, unit sales, transactions, and average price data refer to February 2026 and are compared to February 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 increased 4.0% year-over-year. In the previous month (January 2026), same-store sales increased 5.8% year-over-year.
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- Same-store sales increased 4.4% compared to the previous month (January 2026). Same-store sales in January 2026 decreased 6.6% compared to the previous month (December 2025). For the three months ended February 28, 2026, same-store sales increased 4.3% compared to the corresponding three months a year ago.
- UNITS SOLD
- Units sold decreased 0.2% year-over-year. In the previous month (January 2026), units sold increased 2.9% year-over-year.
- Units sold increased 2.1% compared to the previous month (January 2025). Units sold in January 2025 decreased 2.2% compared to the previous month (December 2025).
- BASKETS (TRANSACTIONS) PER STORE
- Baskets decreased 0.8% year-over-year. In the previous month (January 2026), baskets increased 0.3% year-over-year.
- Baskets increased 3.7% compared to the previous month (January 2026). Baskets in January 2026 decreased 4.6% compared to the previous month (December 2025).
- AVERAGE PRICES
- A dollar-weighted average of prices for the top 500 items purchased in February 2026 increased 2.7% year-over-year, more than the 1.2% year-over-year increase in January 2026.
Commentary from Brandon Thurber (VP, Data Sales & Client Success at NRS)
“The trend of steadily increasing year-over-year same-store sales again proved durable in February, increasing 4.0%. The sequential increase - adjusted for the number of days - was comparable at 4.4%.
“Growth was driven by increased sales in key convenience categories, including cigarettes, prepared cocktails, smokeless tobacco, energy beverages, and rolling papers. Some New Years’ resolutions evidently went by the boards quickly this year.
“Gains were particularly large in Midwestern cities including Chicago and Detroit, while sales growth slowed along the East Coast, highlighting the key role that regional factors, including weather, can play in shaping results.
“Our measure of inflation - the average rate of year-over-year price increase for the best-selling items on our network – jumped to 2.7% from 1.2% in January, marking the first increase after four consecutive months of decreases.”
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 February 2026 with February 2025 are derived from approximately 196 million transactions processed through the approximately 24,800 stores on the NRS network that scanned transactions in both months. Same-store data comparisons of February 2026 with January 2026 are derived from approximately 247 million transactions processed through approximately 32,500 stores.
Same-store data comparisons for the three months ended February 28, 2026 with the year-ago three months are derived from approximately 605 million 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 and the District of Colombia, including 205 of the 210 designated market areas (DMAs) in the United States, and in Canada. During February 2026, NRS’ POS terminals processed $1.9 billion in sales (+14% year-over-year) across 122 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 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 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
# # #
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/af0f3ff1-8d5b-4b0d-96db-cf4402c02dff
FAQ**
How might the 4% year-over-year increase in same-store sales impact the potential growth trajectory for IDT Corporation Class B IDT in the retail sector throughout 2026?
Given the average price increase of 2.7% for the top 500 items, how does this inflationary trend affect the profitability of IDT Corporation Class B IDT's independent retail clients?
Considering the regional sales variations mentioned, what strategies might IDT Corporation Class B IDT employ to capitalize on growth in markets like Chicago and Detroit?
With a reported decrease in units sold by 0.2%, does this suggest a potential risk for future revenue growth for IDT Corporation Class B IDT, or could it reflect changing consumer preferences?
**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about IDT Corporation Class B (NYSE: IDT).
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