Americans Spend Heavily on Entertainment, Retail Sectors See Strong Gains in August

August retail sales hit a high with movie theaters leading the way. Sales up 5.3% as consumers spend more on big-ticket items.

Editorial Desk

September 28, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — City, Country — Retail activity in August saw a significant boost, driven largely by strong performance at movie theaters and other sectors.

A report from real estate firm Colliers showed that sales increased by 5.3 percent compared to the same period last year, with major gains in the entertainment industry. AMC Theaters and Regal Cinemas experienced particularly sharp increases, with sales rising 69.9 percent and 61.8 percent respectively.

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The summer blockbuster season contributed significantly to this growth, with Spider-Man: Brand New Day becoming the highest-grossing movie of the season, earning $923.5 million. Despite inflationary pressures, big-ticket categories like electronics and home improvement also saw strong gains, with sales jumping 7.9 percent and 5.2 percent respectively.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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