Monthly survey on retail trade - 2026-02
Published on 20th of March 2026
Turnover in retail trade was down in February
Note: The change in retail sales does not reflect the change in total household consumption as the latter includes other items such as health care, education and rents.
In February, turnover in retail trade fell by 0.3% (data adjusted for seasonal and working-day variations), following a 1.3% rise in January. The decline recorded in February was due to a fall in sales of manufactured goods, which dropped by 1.6%, following a 1.3% increase in January. Food sales continued to rise, climbing by 1.3%, after a 1.2% increase in January.
Within manufactured goods, sales of footwear and textiles decreased by 9.5% and 5.7% respectively, after posting a sharp increase of 9.4% and 4.3% respectively in January. Conversely, sales of games and toys rose more markedly, by 5.8% following a 1.8% increase in January, whilst those of bicycles and motorcycles recovered, rising by 5.5% after sliding by 10.6% in January.
As regards distribution channels, after growing in January, hypermarket sales levelled off, edging down by 0.1%, after rising by 4.7%, as did supermarket sales, which were down by 0.3% after increasing by 1.7%. Sales of small retailers declined moderately by 0.8% after a 0.3% rise, while department store sales dropped significantly, slipping by 10.6% after a 3.7% increase.
Over the last three months, compared with the previous three months, retail sales remained stable, with the 0.9% increase in food sales offset by the 0.6% decline in manufactured goods sales.
Within manufactured goods, sales of footwear and textiles decreased by 9.5% and 5.7% respectively, after posting a sharp increase of 9.4% and 4.3% respectively in January. Conversely, sales of games and toys rose more markedly, by 5.8% following a 1.8% increase in January, whilst those of bicycles and motorcycles recovered, rising by 5.5% after sliding by 10.6% in January.
As regards distribution channels, after growing in January, hypermarket sales levelled off, edging down by 0.1%, after rising by 4.7%, as did supermarket sales, which were down by 0.3% after increasing by 1.7%. Sales of small retailers declined moderately by 0.8% after a 0.3% rise, while department store sales dropped significantly, slipping by 10.6% after a 3.7% increase.
Over the last three months, compared with the previous three months, retail sales remained stable, with the 0.9% increase in food sales offset by the 0.6% decline in manufactured goods sales.
Total manufactured goods and food sales
Month-on-month change (%) - Seasonally and working-day adjusted volumes
Notes:.
1) Sectors are classified according to the relative weight of the products included in the total aggregate of retail trade (weights are given on the right scale).
2) The aggregated and by sub-sector series are seasonally adjusted on an individual basis. Total and manufactured products series are reconstituted by aggregating the SA-WDA series of the sub-components.
3) SA-WDA: Seasonally and working-day adjusted
1) Sectors are classified according to the relative weight of the products included in the total aggregate of retail trade (weights are given on the right scale).
2) The aggregated and by sub-sector series are seasonally adjusted on an individual basis. Total and manufactured products series are reconstituted by aggregating the SA-WDA series of the sub-components.
3) SA-WDA: Seasonally and working-day adjusted
Download the PDF version of the document
EN_Stat_Info_retail-trade_202602.pdf
Additional links
Breakdown by industrial product and outlet category - February 2026
Updated on the 19th of March 2026