Monthly survey on retail trade - 2026-04
Published on 26th of May 2026
Turnover in retail trade edged up slightly in April
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 April, turnover in retail trade rose by 0.4 % (data adjusted for seasonal and working-day variations), marking the second consecutive monthly increase following a 0.3 % rise in March. This growth was driven by a 0.8 % increase in sales of manufactured goods, after a 0.6% rise the previous month. Food sales edged down by 0.2 %, after remaining stable in March.
Within manufactured goods, the increase in sales was supported by strong performances in sports equipment, up 4.2 % following a 2.1 % rise in March; textiles and clothing, which rose by 3.3 % after declining by 0.5 %; and consumer electronics, which climbed by 1.7 % after dipping by 0.6 %. Conversely, sales fell by 3.4 % in the press and stationery sector, by 3.1 % in automotive equipment, and by 2.8 % in watches and jewellery.
Regarding distribution channels, sales among small retailers dropped by 1.9 %, while supermarket and hypermarket sales increased by 0.7 % and 0.4 % respectively in April. Sales in department stores remained stable.
Over the last three months, compared with the previous three-month period, retail sales posted only a modest 0.2 % increase. This overall rise masks contrasting trends between food sales, which increased by 1.6 %, and manufactured goods sales, which declined by 0.8 %.
Within manufactured goods, the increase in sales was supported by strong performances in sports equipment, up 4.2 % following a 2.1 % rise in March; textiles and clothing, which rose by 3.3 % after declining by 0.5 %; and consumer electronics, which climbed by 1.7 % after dipping by 0.6 %. Conversely, sales fell by 3.4 % in the press and stationery sector, by 3.1 % in automotive equipment, and by 2.8 % in watches and jewellery.
Regarding distribution channels, sales among small retailers dropped by 1.9 %, while supermarket and hypermarket sales increased by 0.7 % and 0.4 % respectively in April. Sales in department stores remained stable.
Over the last three months, compared with the previous three-month period, retail sales posted only a modest 0.2 % increase. This overall rise masks contrasting trends between food sales, which increased by 1.6 %, and manufactured goods sales, which declined by 0.8 %.
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_202604.pdf
Additional links
Breakdown by industrial product and outlet category - April 2026
Updated on the 22nd of May 2026