Cyprus retail trade rises as EU records February dip

Retail trade volumes in February 2026 showed a mixed picture across Europe, with Eurostat reporting a monthly decline in both the euro area and the EU, while Cyprus recorded a robust increase.

According to the statistical office, the seasonally adjusted retail trade volume decreased by 0.2 per cent in the euro area and by 0.3 per cent in the EU in February 2026 compared with January 2026.

In contrast, January 2026 retail trade volumes remained stable in both the euro area and the EU, indicating a slowdown in consumer activity at the start of the year.

On an annual basis, the data showed more resilience, with the calendar-adjusted retail sales index increasing by 1.7 per cent in both the euro area and the EU compared with February 2025.

Breaking down the monthly figures, the volume of retail trade in the euro area declined for food, drinks and tobacco by 0.5 per cent, reflecting weaker demand in essential goods.

At the same time, non-food products excluding automotive fuel remained stable, suggesting cautious consumer spending in discretionary categories.

Meanwhile, automotive fuel sales in specialised stores increased by 0.7 per cent in the euro area, partially offsetting broader declines.

Across the EU, a similar pattern emerged, with the volume of retail trade falling by 0.5 per cent for food, drinks and tobacco, while non-food products excluding fuel declined by 0.2 per cent.

In contrast, automotive fuel sales rose by 1.0 per cent across the EU, marking the strongest monthly growth among retail categories.

Among member states, Cyprus stood out with a monthly increase of 0.8 per cent in retail trade volume, matching Portugal and placing the country among the top performers in February.

The strongest monthly growth was recorded in Malta at 2.0 per cent, followed by Bulgaria at 1.0 per cent, highlighting a divergence in retail performance across the bloc.

On the other end of the spectrum, the largest monthly declines were observed in Lithuania at 2.5 per cent, Poland at 2.4 per cent and Slovenia at 2.0 per cent, signalling weaker consumption in those markets.

Looking at annual trends, the volume of retail trade in the euro area increased by 1.0 per cent for food, drinks and tobacco, indicating steady demand for essential goods over the year.

Growth was more pronounced in discretionary spending, with non-food products excluding automotive fuel rising by 2.3 per cent.

Additionally, automotive fuel sales increased by 1.4 per cent year-on-year in the euro area.

Across the EU, the volume of retail trade rose by 0.9 per cent for food, drinks and tobacco, while non-food products excluding fuel increased by 2.3 per cent.

Fuel sales also recorded gains, with automotive fuel in specialised stores rising by 1.6 per cent year-on-year across the EU.

At the national level, Luxembourg recorded the highest annual increase at 11.9 per cent, followed by Malta at 11.4 per cent and Bulgaria at 7.3 per cent.

In contrast, the largest annual declines were reported in Romania at 6.8 per cent, Slovenia at 3.5 per cent and Slovakia at 2.4 per cent, underscoring uneven recovery across member states.