EU retail trade volume edges higher in May 2026

Seasonally adjusted retail trade volume increased in May 2026 from April 2026 by 0.2 per cent in the euro area and 0.5 per cent in the European Union (EU), according to first estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU. The figures mark a reversal from April 2026, when Eurostat estimated retail trade volume fell by 0.3 per cent in the euro area and 0.6 per cent in the EU.For retail sourcing and supply-chain teams tracking demand conditions, Eurostat estimated that non-food products excluding automotive fuel rose by 0.1 per cent month-on-month (MoM) in the euro area and by 0.5 per cent in the EU in May 2026. Food, drinks and tobacco increased by 0.6 per cent in both the euro area and the EU, while automotive fuel in specialised stores decreased by 0.5 per cent in the euro area and 0.4 per cent in the EU.

Eurostat estimates show retail trade volume rose month-on-month in May 2026 by 0.2 per cent in the euro area and 0.5 per cent in the EU.
Non-food products excluding automotive fuel edged up 0.1 per cent in the euro area and 0.5 per cent in the EU.
Retail sourcing teams can track uneven country trends, with Cyprus and Luxembourg leading monthly gains.

The highest monthly increases among member states were recorded in Cyprus at 3.7 per cent, Luxembourg at 3.6 per cent and Poland at 2.4 per cent. The largest monthly decreases were in Estonia at 2.2 per cent, Croatia at 2.0 per cent, and Belgium and Lithuania at 0.7 per cent each.

On a year-on-year (YoY) basis, the calendar-adjusted retail sales index increased in May 2026 by 1.6 per cent in the euro area and 1.9 per cent in the EU compared with May 2025. Non-food products excluding automotive fuel rose by 2.3 per cent in the euro area and 2.8 per cent in the EU, while automotive fuel in specialised stores declined by 4.6 per cent and 2.9 per cent respectively.

Eurostat data showed the strongest annual retail trade volume increases were in Cyprus at 8.4 per cent, Bulgaria at 7.9 per cent and Luxembourg at 7.8 per cent. Annual decreases were recorded in Romania at 4.0 per cent, Estonia at 0.5 per cent and Belgium at 0.4 per cent, underlining uneven retail momentum across available EU markets.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk