Latest News Stream - Retail Sales Mom

Eurozone retail sales fell by 0.7% month over month in September 2026, following an upwardly revised 0.4% increase in August and significantly missing market expectations of a 0.1% decline. The contraction matched July’s sharp drop, marking the steepest monthly declines since June 2024, with sales of non-food products falling 1.2%, reversing a 0.6% increase in August, while food, drinks and tobacco sales declined 0.3%, following a 0.4% gain in the previous month. In contrast, automotive fuel sales rose 1.0%, rebounding after two consecutive months of declines. Among the eurozone’s largest economies, retail trade contracted sharply in Germany (-2.0% vs. 1.2% in August), followed by the Netherlands (-0.7% vs. 0.5%), France (-0.6% vs. 0.3%) and Spain (-0.4% vs. 0.2%). Italy was the exception, with sales edging up 0.1% after remaining unchanged in August. On a yearly basis, retail sales growth slowed to 0.4% from 1.3% in August, also falling short of market expectations of 0.6%.

Germany’s retail sales dropped 2.0% month-on-month in September 2026, reversing a downwardly revised 1.2% increase in the previous month and missing market expectations for a 0.4% gain. This marked the fourth monthly decline so far this year, driven by falls in both food sales (-1.3%) and non-food sales (-2.4%). Online and mail-order sales also declined 2.2%, pointing to weaker e-commerce demand. On an annual basis, retail sales contracted 2.3%, deepening from a downwardly revised 0.3% decrease in August.

Retail sales in Canada likely increased 0.7% month-over-month in September 2026, extending a 1.2% rise in August, according to preliminary estimates. Meanwhile, data for August was revised down from a preliminary estimate of a 1.3% increase. In August, the largest gain in retail sales was observed at motor vehicle and parts dealers (+1.2%), led by new car dealers (1.5%). In August, gains at automotive parts, accessories and tire retailers (+1.4%) were offset by lower sales at other motor vehicle dealers (-1.4%) and used car dealers (-0.5%). Also, sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors increased 1.7%, up for the first time in three months. In volume terms however, sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors decreased 0.5%. Sales also increased at food and beverage retailers (+1.1%), general merchandise retailers (+1%) and health and personal care retailers (1.6%).

UK retail sales volumes fell 0.4% month-on-month in September 2026, more than the expected 0.1% decline, following an upwardly revised 0.7% rise in August. Online clothing retailers reported weaker demand for autumn and winter ranges amid unseasonably warm weather, while lower footfall and consumer cutbacks weighed on clothing and footwear, sports equipment, and household goods retailers. Overall, non-food store sales volumes fell 0.4%. Supermarket sales also declined after rising in July and August. In contrast, automotive fuel sales rose despite higher prices. In the third quarter, retail sales volumes increased 0.7% quarter-on-quarter and 1.5% year-on-year, supported by fuel and food store sales, while warm weather, promotions and the World Cup boosted alcohol and beverage sales. Annually, retail sales volumes rose 0.8% in September, below the expected 1% increase and slowing from 2.7% in August.

Retail sales volumes in the Eurozone inched higher by 0.1% from the previous month in August of 2026, loosely aligned with market expectations of a 0.2% increase and trimming the 0.6% drop in July, which was the sharpest decline in over one year. Sales were sharply higher for core non-food products (0.5% vs -1.2% in July) to reflect some fresh resilience to higher borrowing costs and prices, while food, drinks, and tobacco sales also inched up (0.1% vs -0.1%). In turn, automotive fuel sales volumes plunged 1.9%, extending the 0.2% drop in the earlier period as the surge in fuel prices drove consumers to cut back on tank refills. From the previous year, Eurozone retail sales jumped by 0.8%, rebounding from the two-year low increase of 0.4% in July.

Germany’s retail sales rose 1.3% month-on-month in August 2026, reversing a downwardly revised 3.2% decline in the previous month, although the increase fell short of market expectations for a 1.5% gain. It marked the fastest growth since June 2025, supported by a 0.9% rise in food sales and a 1.6% increase in non-food sales. Online and mail-order sales also climbed 3.7%, pointing to firmer e-commerce demand. On an annual basis, however, retail sales fell 0.4%, narrowing from a 2.5% decline in July but missing forecasts for a 0.1% gain.

Retail sales in Canada likely increased 1.3% month-over-month in August 2026, rebounding from a 0.7% fall in July, according to preliminary estimates. It would mark the strongest gain in retail sales since January. Meanwhile in July, sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers were down 0.8%, posting their first decline in four months, led by lower sales at new car dealers (-1.3%). Also, sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors declined 0.9%, sales at general merchandise dropped 1.9% and lower sales were also recorded at clothing, clothing accessories, shoes, jewelry, luggage and leather goods retailers (-1.2%). In contrast, sales went up for building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers (+0.8%) and used car dealers (+2.9%). Core retail sales, which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers, were also down 0.7% in July. Year-on-year, retail sales increased 5.1%.

UK retail sales volumes rose 0.5% month-on-month in August 2026, defying market expectations of a 0.2% fall and rebounding from a 0.5% decline in July. Non-store retailers rose 1.7%, partially recovering from July’s decline when earlier promotional activity in June pulled sales forward. Non-food store sales volumes rose 0.6%, with department stores recovering from stock availability issues and clothing retailers rebounding. Food store sales volumes also increased 0.3%, supported by higher supermarket spending. Meanwhile, fuel sales fell 1.3% as sharp price rises prompted consumers to change buying habits, including partially filling tanks. Over the three months, sales volumes grew 0.9%, supported by warm weather, strong non-store and food sales, and higher alcohol and beverage sales linked to promotions and the World Cup. Annually, retail sales volumes rose 2.4%, exceeding expectations for a 1.9% increase and accelerating from a 1.2% gain in July.

Brazil's retail sales fell 0.8% month-over-month in July 2026, following a 0.5% rise in June. Five of the eight sectors posted declines, led by furniture and household appliances (-4.9%), books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (-4.2%), textiles, clothing and footwear (-2.7%), other personal and household goods (-2.2%), and hypermarkets and supermarkets (-0.2%). Three sectors grew, led by pharmaceutical and perfumery products (0.6%), office, IT and communication equipment (0.6%), and fuels and lubricants (0.3%). Sales fell in 20 of Brazil's 27 states, led by Amapá and Tocantins (-2.5% each) and Mato Grosso (-2.2%). In contrast, expanded retail sales increased 0.4%, following a 1.1% decline in June.