Czech Republic Retail Sales Growth Slows

Retail sales in the Czech Republic rose by 1.8% year-on-year in December 2025, sharply lower than market forecasts of a 3.5% gain and slowing from a downwardly revised and five-month high of 4.5% increase in the previous month. The latest figure also marked the lowest reading since December 2023, driven by softer sales increase for non-food products (2% vs 6.3% in November). Among the non-food sector, sales declined mainly for information and communication equipment (-1.8% vs -1.5%) and cultural and recreation goods (-1% vs 3%), while it rose at a lesser extent for other goods (2.3% vs 3%). Additionally, activity growth slowed for automotive fuel (3.9% vs 6%) and food, beverages, and tobacco (1% vs 1.1%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail trade fell by 0.1% in December, reversing a 0.8% gain in the preceding period.

Retail sales in the Czech Republic rose by 4.6% year-on-year in November 2025, following a downwardly revised 2.4% gain in the previous month and exceeding market expectations of 3.4%. This marked the largest sales growth in five months, as activity increased in automotive fuel (6% vs 4.3%) and non-food products (6.3% vs 3.9% in October), particularly in cosmetic and toilet articles (9.5% vs 8.7%), mail order houses or via internet (15.8% vs 6.6%), and not in stores, stalls, or markets (14.6% vs 5.9%). In addition, sales recovered in food, beverages, and tobacco (1.1% vs -0.4%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail activity grew 0.8% in November from a downwardly revised 0.3% in the preceding period.

Retail sales in the Czech Republic rose by 2.8% year-on-year in October 2025, slightly below market expectations of 3% and unchanged from an upwardly revised 2.8% gain in September. Retail sales rose in non-food products (4.3% vs 3.2% in September), particularly in cultural and recreational goods (8.0% vs 3.5%), clothing, footwear, and leather goods (5.9% vs 1.6%), and via mail order or internet (7.3% vs 4.3%). Meanwhile, sales slowed for automotive fuel (5.5% vs 9.4%), while it continued to decline for food, beverages, and tobacco (-0.3% vs -0.2%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail activity rose 0.4% in October, reversing a 0.2% decline in September.