Czech Retail Sales Growth Slows in February

Retail sales in the Czech Republic rose by 4.1% year-on-year in February 2026, well above market expectations of a 3.8% gain but easing from a downwardly revised 4.9% growth in the previous month. Activity slowed in the sales of automotive fuel (3.4% vs 5.8% in January), sales not in stores, stalls, and markets (19.3% vs 16.1%), and sales via mail and internet (17.6% vs 20.8%). In the non-food sector, turnover also decreased (6.6% vs 8.2%), particularly for culture, sports, and recreation (5.4% vs 9.4%), information and communication equipment (1.5% vs 2.2%), and cosmetics and toiletries (7.9% vs 8.4%). Meanwhile, sales grew for non-specialised stores (1.5% vs 0.9%) and food, beverages, and tobacco (1.2% vs 0.2%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail activity recorded a flat reading, following a 0.9% increase in the preceding period.

Retail sales in the Czech Republic rose by 5% year-on-year in January 2026, well above market expectations of a 2.8% gain and accelerating from a 1.8% increase in the previous month. The latest figure also marked the fastest growth in retail activity since April 2025, mainly driven by higher sales of automotive fuel (7.3% vs 4.4% in December 2025) and sales via mail and internet (18.7% vs 3.7%). In the non-food sector, turnover also increased faster (7.8% vs 2.1%), particularly for culture, sports and recreation (9.1% vs -2.1%), cosmetics and toiletries (8.5% vs 8.2%), and clothing and footwear (6.9% vs 0.9%). On the other hand, sales declined in specialized stores with household products (-3% vs -0.3%), while growth softened for food, beverages and tobacco (0.3% vs 0.7%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail activity increased by 1% in January, marking the sharpest rise since April 2025 and rebounding from a 0.1% fall in the preceding period.

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.