North Macedonia Retail Sales Rebound in July

North Macedonia’s retail sales advanced by 5.6% year-on-year in July 2026, rebounding from a 1.0% drop in the previous month. Activity strengthened in non-food products excluding fuel, jumping by 6.7% from 1.4%, and automotive fuel, rising by 13.2% from 2.5%, while trade in food, beverages, and tobacco was flat after falling by 4.2% in June. Moreover, retail trade excluding automotive fuel rebounded sharply, rising by 3.6% from a 1.1% drop.

North Macedonia's retail sales fell 1.0% year-on-year in June 2026, marking the first annual decline since September 2025 and reversing from a 7.3% increase in May. The downturn was driven by a 4.2% drop in sales of food, beverages and tobacco, following a 9.1% rise in the previous month, while sales growth of automotive fuels also slowed sharply to 2.5% from 14.7%, contributing to a 1.1% decline in retail trade excluding automotive fuel, after a 6.2% increase in May. Meanwhile, sales of non-food products excluding fuel continued to grow, although at a slightly slower pace of 1.4%, compared with 1.6% in the previous month.

North Macedonia's retail sales rose 7.3% year-on-year in May 2026, accelerating from 2.1% in April. The strongest growth came from automotive fuel sales, which surged 36.2% after a 14.7% increase in the previous month. Retail sales excluding fuel rose 6.0%, slightly easing from 6.2%. Sales of food, beverages and tobacco accelerated to 15.0% from 9.1%, while non-food sales excluding fuel fell 3.6%, reversing a 1.6% increase in April.