Croatia Retail Sales Rise the Most in 4 Months

Retail sales growth in Croatia increased by 4.8% year-on-year in December 2025, from a more than two-year low of 1.4% in the previous month. This marked the highest level since June, as sales rose at a faster pace for non-food products (5.6% vs. 4.2% in November), automotive fuels and lubricants (9.4% vs. 6.8%), and trade, excluding automotive fuels and lubricants, in specialized stores (4.9% vs. 1%). In addition, sales rebounded for food, beverages, and tobacco (4% vs. -2.6%). Meanwhile, trade via the internet or mail order declined (-0.8% vs. 7.9%). On a monthly basis, retail activity rose 0.7%, rebounding from a 0.5% fall in the previous month.

Retail sales growth in Croatia eases to 1.4% year-on-year in November 2025 from 4.1% in the previous month. This marked the slowest increase since a decline in March 2023, as growth moderated for non-food products (4.1% vs 7.7% in October) and automotive fuels and lubricants (6.6% vs 9.0%). At the same time, sales of food, beverages, and tobacco fell 2.6%, following a 1.6% rise in the prior month. Meanwhile, internet or mail-order trade grew at a faster pace (8.2% vs 5.1%). On a monthly basis, retail sales dropped by 2.2% in November, reversing a 1.3% increase in October and marking the steepest fall since March 2021. For the January–November period, retail sales grew 3.6% compared to the same period a year earlier.

Retail sales in Croatia increased by 4.1% year-on-year in October 2025, following a 3.1% rise in the previous month. This was the highest growth since June, driven by stronger sales of non-food products excluding automotive fuels and lubricants (7.7% vs 5.0% in September) and of automotive fuels and lubricants (9.0% vs 7.6%). In contrast, growth slowed for food, beverages, and tobacco (1.6% vs 1.9%) and for online and mail-order sales (5.1% vs 5.9%). On a monthly basis, retail trade rose by 1.3% in October, the same pace as in the prior month. For the January-October period, retail sales were 3.6% higher compared to the same period a year ago.