Latvia Retail Sales Growth Eases Further

Retail sales in Latvia increased 0.8% year-on-year in December 2025, slowing from a downwardly revised 3.2% growth in the previous month. This was the smallest gain since sales declined in May, as growth moderated in all main groups, namely for food, beverages and tobacco (0.2% vs 0.8% in November), non-food products (1.2% vs 4.3%), and automotive fuel (0.6% vs 4.3%). Among non-food items, the most pronounced slowdowns were recorded in information and communication equipment in specialised stores (6.8% vs 16.6%), textiles, carpets, rugs, wall and floor coverings, furniture, lighting equipment, and other household articles in specialised stores (5.4% vs 12.8%), and watches and jewellery and other retail sale of new goods in specialised stores (5.9% vs 10.6%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail sales fell by 0.8%, following a downwardly revised 0.1% rise in November.

Retail sales in Latvia rose 3.3% year-on-year in November 2025, marking six consecutive months of gains but slowing from the 4.8% increase in October. The moderation was largely driven by weaker growth in non-food products (4.4% vs 8.4%), including softer gains in sub-categories such as non-specialized stores (2.7% vs 20.7%) and electrical household appliances in specialized stores (10.3% vs 15.0%), alongside declines in hardware, instruments, construction materials and sanitary equipment (-3.6% vs 7.6%), cultural and recreation goods (-12.5% vs 8.6%), and clothing, footwear and leather goods (-9.7% vs 6.9%). In contrast, sales of food products (0.8% vs 0.1%) and automotive fuel (4.6% vs 3.7%) accelerated. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail sales rose 0.3% in November, following a 1.2% gain in October.

Retail sales in Latvia grew by 4.8% year-on-year in October 2025, from 2.7% in the previous month. This marked the strongest growth in retail activity since November 2022, as sales increased at a faster pace for fuel and gas stations (3.7% vs 1% in September), information and communication technology equipment (14.7% vs 2.2%), household goods (7.9% vs 4.1%), other goods in specialized stores (7.1% vs 6.8%), and non-specialized stores (3.3% vs 1%). Meanwhile, sales declined further for food, beverages, and tobacco (-19.1% vs -11.2%), and growth slowed for cultural and recreational goods (8.6% vs 12.3%) and for sales outside shops, stalls, and markets (0.2% vs 5.8%). Moreover, trade in stalls and markets tumbled (-2.4% vs 5.8%). On a monthly basis, retail sales rose 1.2%, rebounding from a downwardly revised 0.6% fall in the previous month and marking its highest level since July.