Cyprus Retail Sales Growth at 6-Month High

Retail sales in Cyprus rose by 8.9% year-on-year in December 2025, accelerating from a 7.6% increase in the previous month. Sales activity remained elevated for food, beverages and tobacco in specialized stores (18.5% vs 22.5% in November), information and communication equipment (16.4% vs 15.2%), and clothing and footwear (15.4% vs 14.1%). At the same time, trade rebounded for automotive fuel (5.6% vs -3.6%) and cultural and recreational goods (1% vs -1.5%). On the other hand, sales declined for flowers, plants, watches, jewellery, optical goods and second-hand goods (-2.6% vs 5.1%) and sales that are not in stores (-4.3% vs -12%), while growth slowed for pharmaceuticals, orthopedic goods, cosmetics (0.5% vs 3%). On a year-to-date basis, retail sales advanced by 7.9%.

Retail sales in Cyprus increased 7.6% year-on-year in November 2025, slowing from an over three-year high of 10.1% in the previous month. The slowdown was primarily driven by moderated sales in food, beverages, and tobacco in non-specialized stores (8.0% vs 9.3% in October), other household equipment (6.2% vs 12.8%), clothing and footwear (14.1% vs 24.4%), pharmaceuticals, orthopedic goods, and cosmetics (3.0% vs 5.9%), flowers, plants, watches, jewelry, optical goods, and second-hand goods (5.1% vs 6.8%). Additionally, sales for automotive fuel declined (-3.6% vs 3.5%). Meanwhile, sales accelerated for food, beverages, and tobacco in specialized stores (22.5% vs 15.3%) and information and communication equipment (9.8% vs 12.9%). On a year-to-date basis, retail sales advanced by 7.8%.

Retail sales in Cyprus increased by 10.1% year-on-year in October 2025, accelerating from a 9% rise in September. This marked the strongest growth in retail activity since May, mainly driven by stronger sales in food, beverages and tobacco in specialized stores (19.2% vs 15.3%), automotive fuel (6.4% vs 3.5%), and flowers, plants, watches, jewellery, optical goods and second-hand items (7.3% vs 6.8%). Meanwhile, growth moderated in food, beverages and tobacco in non-specialized stores (8.7% vs 9.3%), other household equipment (10.4% vs 12.8%), and clothing and footwear (15.8% vs 24.4%). In addition, the sales of cultural and recreation goods continued to decline though the contraction softened (-1.2% vs -1.6%). On a year-to-date basis, retail trade grew by 7.8%.