Croatia Retail Growth Weakest Since 2023

Retail sales in Croatia rose by 0.4% year-on-year in June 2026, easing slightly from a 0.5% increase in the previous month, remaining the weakest growth since March 2023. Sales of automotive fuels and lubricants fell at a faster pace (-12.9% vs. -11.8% in May). Moreover, retail sales via the internet or mail order declined sharply (-3.2% vs. 3.6%). On the other hand, sales increased for food, beverages, and tobacco (2.9% vs. 1.9%), while sales of non-food products excluding automotive fuels and lubricants rose after remaining flat in the previous month (at 1.5%). On a monthly basis, retail trade grew by 1.5% in June, rebounding from a 2.0% decline in the preceding month. For the first half of 2026, retail sales increased by 1.9% compared with the same period a year earlier.

Retail sales in Croatia rose by 0.5% year-on-year in May 2026, easing from a 2.0% increase in the previous month, marking the softest growth since March 2023. Sales growth moderated for food, beverages, and tobacco (1.9% vs 2.6% in April). Additionally, activity recorded a flat reading for non-food products excluding automotive fuels and lubricants (vs 2.8%). On the other hand, sales declined at a softer pace for automotive fuels and lubricants (-11.8% vs -15.1%), while retail sales via the internet or mail order recovered (3.6% vs -3.6%). On a monthly basis, retail trade declined by 2.0% in May, following a 0.2% drop in the preceding period. For the January–May period, retail activity increased by 2.3% compared with the same period a year earlier.

Retail sales in Croatia rose by 2.0% year-on-year in April 2026, easing from a 3.3% increase in the previous month. This marked the softest growth since November last year, as sales increased at a slower pace for food, beverages, and tobacco (2.6% vs 3.2% in March) and for non-food products excluding automotive fuels and lubricants (2.8% vs 8.0%). At the same time, sales of automotive fuels and lubricants declined sharply (-15.1% vs -5.0%), while retail sales via the internet or mail order turned negative (-3.6% vs 3.7%). Meanwhile, retail trade excluding automotive fuels and lubricants in specialised stores rose 3.9%, following a 4.6% increase in March. On a monthly basis, retail trade fell 0.2%, after a 0.9% rise in March. For the January–April period, retail sales went up by 2.8% compared with the same period a year earlier.