Cyprus reported a 8.4% increase in retail sales volumes in May 2026, compared to the corresponding month a year earlier, the highest in the European Union, new data from Eurostat has revealed.
Other countries to report a notable annual increase in retail sales volumes included Bulgaria (+7.9%), Luxembourg (+7.8%) and Lithuania (7.3%).
At the other end of the scale, retail sales declined in Romania (-4.0%), Estonia (-0.5%) and Belgium (-0.4%), the data showed.
Retail sales growth
Across the broader EU and euro area, retail sales returned to growth in May 2026, following declines in April, Eurostat noted.
On a month-on-month basis, i.e. compared with April 2026, the volume of retail trade increased by 0.2% in the euro area and by 0.5% across the EU.
Food, drink and tobacco sales led the monthly recovery, rising 0.6% in both regions, while non-food sales edged up 0.1% in the euro area and 0.5% in the EU. Sales of automotive fuel continued to decline, falling 0.5% in the euro area and 0.4% across the EU.
As well as reporting the highest year-on-year increase, Cyprus also recorded the strongest monthly increase in retail sales (+3.7%), followed by Luxembourg (+3.6%) and Poland (+2.4%). Estonia (-2.2%), Croatia (-2.0%), and Belgium and Lithuania (both -0.7%) were among the countries to report declines.
Annual sales
On an annual basis, retail sales were also higher. Compared with May 2025, retail trade volumes increased by 1.6% in the euro area and by 1.9% across the EU.
Food, drink and tobacco sales rose by 2.4% year-on-year in the euro area and by 1.9% in the EU, while non-food retail sales increased by 2.3% and 2.8%, respectively. Automotive fuel sales remained under pressure, declining by 4.6% in the euro area and 2.9% across the EU.
Among member states, Cyprus recorded the strongest monthly increase in retail sales (+3.7%), followed by Luxembourg (+3.6%) and Poland (+2.4%). The largest monthly declines were reported in Estonia (-2.2%), Croatia (-2.0%), and Belgium and Lithuania (both -0.7%). Read more here.
Volume of Retail Trade – Annual Change, May 2026 (%)
| Country/Region | Annual Change (%) |
|---|---|
| Belgium | -0.4 |
| Bulgaria | 7.9 |
| Czechia | n/a |
| Denmark | 4.0 |
| Germany | 1.5 |
| Estonia | -0.5 |
| Ireland | 0.4 |
| Greece | n/a |
| Spain | 1.1 |
| France | 1.9 |
| Croatia | 0.5 |
| Italy | 0.7 |
| Cyprus | 8.4 |
| Latvia | 3.3 |
| Lithuania | 7.3 |
| Luxembourg | 7.8 |
| Hungary | 4.9 |
| Malta | 4.7 |
| Netherlands | 1.3 |
| Austria | 0.3 |
| Poland | 3.9 |
| Portugal | 3.2 |
| Romania | -4.0 |
| Slovenia | 1.7 |
| Slovakia | 1.5 |
| Finland | 6.0 |
| Sweden | 7.7 |
| Norway | -2.5 |
| Switzerland | 3.5 |
* Percentage change compared with the same month of the previous year. “c” indicates confidential or unavailable data and is shown as n/a.
