Retail sales were up 3.7% in value terms in Italy in the first quarter of this year, compared to the same period a year ago, while volume sales were up 2.1%.
According to the Istat data, retail sales in Italy also strengthened in March 2026, with both spending values and sales volumes rising month-on-month.
Seasonally adjusted retail sales increased by 0.8% in value and by 0.7% in volume compared with February 2026.
Across the first quarter of 2026, retail sales rose by 0.6% in value and by 0.2% in volume compared with the previous quarter.
Across the retail sector
Large-scale retailers recorded the strongest annual performance, with sales increasing by 3.7%, while small-scale retailers posted 3.1% growth, Istat noted. Non-store retail sales rose by 3.4%.
Online retail continued to outperform the wider market, with internet sales rising by 11.2% year-on-year.
Among non-food categories, almost all segments recorded annual growth, with the strongest increase seen in computers and telecommunications equipment, where sales rose by 8.6%.
The only notable area of decline was footwear and travel-related goods. Sales of shoes, leather goods and travel items fell by 1.3% compared with March 2025. Read more here.
