Cyprus Retail Trade Growth Slows Further

Retail sales in Cyprus rose by 4.1% year-on-year in February 2026, following an upwardly revised 9.5% jump in the preceding month. Sales growth slowed across several categories, including clothing and footwear (1.2% vs 16.5% in January); food, beverages or tobacco in non-specialized stores like supermarkets (4.9% vs 8.6%); other household equipment (6.6% vs 15.1%) and information and communication equipment (8.8% vs 24.1%). Moreover, spending on automotive fuel declined (-2.8% vs 2.3%). In the first two months of 2026, retail trade rose by 6.8% over a year ago.

Retail sales in Cyprus rose by 8.3% year-on-year in January 2026, slowing from a 8.9% increase in the previous month. Sales growth softened mainly for food, beverages and tobacco in specialized stores (3.4% vs 18.5% in December), especially in supermarkets (8.6% vs 8.9%), and automotive fuel (2.3% vs 3.1%). Additionally, retail sales not in stores declined sharply (-11.7% vs -4.3%), while flowers, plants, watches, jewellery, optical goods and second-hand goods remained unchanged (at -2.6%). In contrast, turnover increased faster for information and communication equipment (21.3% vs 11.7%), other household equipment (construction materials, carpets, furniture, electrical appliances, lighting) (11.5% vs 7%), and clothing and footwear (19.1% vs 14.5%). For the whole year of 2025, retail activity was 7.9% higher compared last year.

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%.