Greece Retail Sales Growth Picks Up

Retail sales in Greece rose 6.1% year-on-year in August 2026, accelerating from a downwardly revised 5.1% increase in July. The pickup was driven by a rebound in automotive fuel sales, which grew 4.3% after declining 0.3%. Excluding fuel, retail sales growth was unchanged at 5.3%. Food sales increased 6.8%, up from 5.6%, while growth also accelerated in supermarkets (7.3% vs. 5.8%), pharmaceuticals (8.4% vs. 5.9%) and furniture and household equipment (9.9% vs. 8.7%). By contrast, sales fell in department stores (-1.3% vs. 4.8%) and clothing and footwear (-0.1% vs. 2.8%), while growth in books, stationery and related goods slowed to 0.9% from 3.1%. From the previous month, seasonally adjusted retail sales rose 0.9%, easing from a 1.4% increase in July.

Retail sales in Greece rose 5.2% year-on-year in July 2026 from a revised 1.8% increase in the previous month. Sales growth accelerated in the food sector (5.6% vs 2.4% in June), as well as in the non-food sector excluding automotive fuel (5.6% vs 4.0%). Among specialized categories, retail activity rose for supermarkets (5.8% vs 2.2%), food, beverages, and tobacco (4.8% vs 0.2%), and pharmaceutical products and cosmetics (5.9% vs 3.3%). At the same time, sales rebounded for department stores (1.8% vs -2.1%) and books, stationery, and other goods (3.1% vs -0.6%), while declines eased in automotive fuel (-0.4% vs -6.7%). Meanwhile, sales growth moderated for clothing and footwear (2.7% vs 6.8%) and furniture, electrical equipment, and household equipment (8.7% vs 10.9%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail activity rose 1.4%, rebounding from a 1.4% fall in June.

Retail sales in Greece increased 1.9% year-on-year in June 2026, slowing from a downwardly revised one-year high of 6.7% in the previous month. Sales growth eased for food (2.5% vs 7.9% in May) and the non-food sector excluding automotive fuel (4.0% vs 7.3%), while sales of automotive fuel fell further (-6.9% vs -0.4%). Among specialized categories, retail activity also moderated in supermarkets (2.4% vs 7.2%), food, beverages, and tobacco (0.2% vs 8.2%), pharmaceutical products and cosmetics (3.3% vs 8.5%), and clothing and footwear (6.8% vs 8.6%). At the same time, sales declined in department stores (-2.1% vs 1.9%) and books, stationery, and other goods (-0.6% vs 2.4%). In contrast, sales edged up in furniture, electrical equipment, and household goods (10.9% vs 10.7%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail activity fell 1.4% in June, reversing a 3.3% gain in May.