Italy Retail Sales Rebound More than Expected

Italy’s retail sales increased by 0.6% month-on-month in January 2026, more than market expectations of a 0.2% rise and rebounding from a revised 0.7% fall in the previous month. Sales rebounded for both food (1.1% vs -0.8% in December) and non-food products (0.2% vs -0.7%). On an annual basis, retail sales grew by 2.3%, the biggest gain in nine months, following a revised 1.1% increase in December, driven by higher sales of food (3.9% vs 2.0%) and non-food products (1.2% vs 0.4%). Among non-food items, sales went up for almost all product groups, notably in IT, telecommunications, and telephone equipment (3.9%), while the largest drop was seen in footwear, leather goods, and travel goods (-2.2%). The value of retail sales rose sharply for large-scale distribution (4.1%) and e-commerce (4.6%), while it grew modestly for small retail outlets (0.2%) and dropped for out-of-store trade (-1.7%).

Italy’s retail sales decreased by 0.8% month-on-month in December 2025, reversing a 0.5% rise in each of the previous two months, compared to market expectations of a 0.4% increase. Sales for both food (-0.9% vs 0.4% in November) and non-food products (-0.7% vs 0.6%) declined. On an annual basis, retail sales rose by 0.9%, easing from a 1.3% growth in each of the previous two months, largely due to a slowdown in non-food sales (0.3% vs 1.4%), while food sales picked up (1.7% vs 1.3%). Among non-food items, the largest gains were observed in pharmaceuticals (4.6%) and perfumery and personal care (3.8%), while the sharpest declines were recorded in household tools and hardware (-3.4%) and footwear, leather goods and travel goods (-3.3%). The value of retail sales increased across all distribution channels: large-scale distribution (0.6%), small retail outlets (0.8%), out-of-store sales (0.8%), and e-commerce (3.1%). Overall, retail sales in 2025 were 0.8% higher than in 2024.

Italy’s retail sales increased 0.5% month-on-month in November 2025, the same pace as in the previous month and coming in above market expectations of a 0.3% rise. Food sales went up 0.5% (vs 0.5% in October) and non-food sales rose 0.7% (vs 0.4%). On an annual basis, retail sales grew 1.3% in November, also matching October’s rate. Growth in non-food sales strengthened (1.4% vs 0.5% in October) while slowed in food sales (1.3% vs 2.3%). Among non-food products, the biggest increase was recorded in perfumery and personal care products (5.9%), whereas the most significant drop was seen in other products (-0.4%). Compared to the same month last year, the value of retail sales rose for large-scale distribution (2.1%) and e-commerce (8.3%), but fell for small retail businesses (-0.5%) and sales outside of stores (-1.9%).