Turkiye’s retail sales surge 13.7% in May despite trade dip

Turkiye’s retail sector remained resilient in May 2026, with the retail sales volume index rising 13.7 per cent year-on-year (YoY), even as the country’s overall trade sales volume declined 1.4 per cent compared with May 2025, according to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat).The overall decline was driven by weaker wholesale activity. Wholesale trade sales volume fell 7.8 per cent from a year earlier, while wholesale and retail trade slipped 1.7 per cent. In contrast, retail trade continued to post strong growth, highlighting sustained consumer demand despite broader softness in the trade sector, TurkStat said in a press release.

Turkiye’s retail sales volume rose 13.7 per cent year-on-year in May 2026 despite overall trade sales falling 1.4 per cent, as wholesale sales dropped 7.8 per cent.
Meanwhile, total trade sales increased 0.7 per cent month-on-month.
Textiles, clothing and footwear sales climbed 18.3 per cent annually and 3.1 per cent month-on-month, reflecting strong consumer demand.

On a monthly basis, total trade sales volume increased 0.7 per cent in May compared with April. Retail sales volume rose 2.4 per cent, while wholesale and retail advanced 2.9 per cent. However, wholesale trade sales edged down 0.6 per cent during the month.

TurkStat also published detailed retail sales figures by category. Textiles, clothing and footwear sales increased 18.3 per cent YoY and 3.1 per cent MoM in May 2026.

The data indicated that consumer spending remained a key source of growth, offsetting weakness in wholesale markets.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (CG)