Cyprus retail activity dips in January as EU retail trade edges up

Cyprus recorded a decline in retail trade volume in January 2026, even as the European Union overall registered a modest increase, according to Eurostat.

According to the data, Cyprus retail trade volume fell by 0.8 per cent month-on-month in January 2026, contrasting with a slight increase across the wider European market.

Across the bloc, seasonally adjusted retail trade volume decreased by 0.1 per cent in the euro area while the EU recorded a monthly increase of 0.1 per cent in January 2026 compared with December 2025.

The figures followed a 0.2 per cent increase in euro area retail trade volume in December 2025, while retail activity across the EU remained stable during the same month.

In Cyprus, the monthly decline in January followed a 0.1 per cent increase in December 2025 and a stronger 0.9 per cent rise in November 2025, indicating that the sector had previously shown positive momentum before the latest drop.

On an annual basis, the calendar-adjusted retail sales index increased by 2.0 per cent in the euro area in January 2026 compared with January 2025.

At the same time, retail trade volume across the EU rose by 2.3 per cent year-on-year, reflecting continued growth in consumer activity across the broader European market.

Sector-level data for the euro area showed that in January 2026 compared with December 2025, the volume of retail trade increased for food, drinks and tobacco by 0.3 per cent.

During the same period, non-food products excluding automotive fuel declined by 0.2 per cent in the euro area.

In addition, automotive fuel sold in specialised stores decreased by 1.1 per cent across the euro area on a monthly basis.

For the EU as a whole, retail trade volume in January 2026 compared with December 2025 increased for food, drinks and tobacco by 0.4 per cent.

Meanwhile, non-food products excluding automotive fuel decreased by 0.1 per cent across the EU.

Retail sales of automotive fuel in specialised stores across the EU declined by 1.0 per cent during the same period.

Among EU member states with available data, Estonia recorded the highest monthly increase in total retail trade volume at 4.4 per cent.

This was followed by Latvia with a rise of 2.8 per cent and Portugal with an increase of 2.0 per cent.

At the other end of the scale, Slovakia recorded the largest monthly decline at 3.5 per cent.

Further decreases were reported in Slovenia with a drop of 1.9 per cent and Croatia with a decline of 1.3 per cent.

Looking at annual comparisons by sector, data showed that retail trade volume in the euro area increased for food, drinks and tobacco by 1.4 per cent in January 2026 compared with January 2025.

In addition, non-food products excluding automotive fuel rose by 2.4 per cent year-on-year in the euro area.

Sales of automotive fuel in specialised stores increased by 0.7 per cent in the euro area on an annual basis.

Across the EU, retail trade volume for food, drinks and tobacco increased by 1.3 per cent year-on-year.

Meanwhile, non-food products excluding automotive fuel recorded stronger growth of 2.9 per cent across the EU.

Retail sales of automotive fuel in specialised stores rose by 2.0 per cent across the EU compared with January 2025.

At the national level, Luxembourg recorded the highest annual increase in total retail trade volume at 24.7 per cent.

This was followed by Lithuania with a rise of 9.3 per cent and Estonia with growth of 8.7 per cent.

By contrast, annual declines were recorded in Slovakia at 3.1 per cent and Slovenia at 1.5 per cent, according to Eurostat’s latest data.