Chile Retail Sales Growth Accelerates in September

Chile’s retail trade growth accelerated to 4.4% year-on-year in September 2026, up from an upwardly revised 3.6% in August, driven mainly by stronger sales across several categories. The largest gains were recorded in spare parts, tires, and accessories for motor vehicles (15.6% vs. 13.7% in August), used light-duty and commercial vehicles (8.4% vs. 2.9%), miscellaneous consumer goods (9.8% vs. 5.1%), electronic products, home equipment, and technology products (8.4% vs. 5.3%), and construction materials, tools, hardware, and paint (8.1% vs. 7.8%). Sales also increased at a faster pace for pharmacy, cosmetics, and personal hygiene products (3.0% vs. 1.3%), while growth in clothing, footwear, and accessories remained unchanged at 2.5%. In contrast, sales of new light motor vehicles fell 3.8%, reversing an 8.9% increase in August. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail trade rose 1.0% in September, following an upwardly revised 2.1% jump in August.

Retail sales in Chile rose by 3.4% from a year ago in August 2026, picking up from an upwardly revised 2.5% gain in the previous month. Sales growth accelerated for motor vehicle parts, tires and accessories (15.2% vs 8.1% in July); construction materials, tools, hardware and paint (8.3% vs 0.9%); miscellaneous consumer goods (4.7% vs 3.8%) and electronics, home equipment and technological products (4.7% vs 4.5%). Additionally, sales rebounded for new light motor vehicles (8.9% vs -3.9%) and used light and commercial motor vehicles (2.5% vs -8.6%), while fuel sales were nearly flat (-0.2% vs -7.7%). In contrast, growth slowed for food (0.4% vs 3.6%); clothing, footwear and accessories (2.3% vs 3.3%) and pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and toiletries (0.8% vs 1.4%), while beverages and tobacco sales declined further (-5.0% vs -5.2%). On a seasonally adjusted basis, retail trade increased by 1.2%, rebounding from a downwardly revised 2.7% drop in the prior month.

Retail sales in Chile rose by 2.2% from a year ago in July 2026, following an upwardly revised 5.2% surge in the previous month. This was the weakest performance in retail activity since May 2024, as sales growth moderated across most major segments. The slowdown was particularly evident in motor vehicle parts, tires and accessories (8.8% vs 17.3% in June); pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and toiletries (1% vs 4.3%); construction materials, tools, hardware and paint (0.4% vs 7.6%); miscellaneous consumer goods (3.4% vs 6.5%) and clothing, footwear and accessories (3.4% vs 6.8%). Additionally, sales declined for used light and commercial motor vehicles (-8.6% vs 22.1%); new light motor vehicles (-6.3% vs 11.5%); fuels (-7.8% vs -10.5%) and beverages and tobacco (-5.2% vs -5.5%). On a seasonally adjusted basis, retail trade decreased by 2.9%, marking the steepest drop since June 2023, after a 1.5% rise in the prior month.