Poland Retail Sales Growth Nears 4-Year High

Retail sales in Poland rose 8.7% year-on-year in March 2026, accelerating from a 5% increase in the previous month and marking the strongest growth since April 2022. Retail activity strengthened further in motor vehicles, motorcycles and parts (7.7% vs 2.7% in February), solid, liquid and gaseous fuels (16.2% vs 10.2%), food, beverages and tobacco products (4.3% vs 0.2%), pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and orthopedic equipment (10.1% vs 5.5%), textiles, clothing and footwear (13.6% vs 0.8%), and furniture, radio, TV and household appliances (7.9% vs 7.2%). Additionally, sales rebounded in newspapers, books and other specialized stores returned to growth (1.1% vs -9.3%). On a monthly basis, retail activity increased by 18.1% in March, accelerating from a 5.6% drop in the previous month.

Retail sales in Poland rose 5% year-on-year in February 2026, up from 4.4% in the previous month but falling short of market expectations of 6.1%. Sales rebounded in motor vehicles, motorcycles and parts (2.7% vs -4.5% in January), while growth picked up further in solid, liquid and gaseous fuels (10.2% vs 4.6%). Meanwhile, sales growth slowed in food, beverages and tobacco products (0.2% vs 4.2%), pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and orthopedic equipment (5.5% vs 9.6%), textiles, clothing and footwear (0.8% vs 17.6%), and furniture, radio, TV and household appliances (7.2% vs 10.5%). At the same time, activity contracted in newspapers, books and other sales in specialized stores (-9.3% vs 8.1%). On a monthly basis, retail activity fell 5.6% in February, easing from a 17.8% decline in the previous month.

Retail sales in Poland rose 4.4% year-on-year in January 2026, surpassing market expectations of 3.1% but easing from a 5.3% increase in December 2025. Sales slowed mostly for solid, liquid and gaseous fuels (4.6% vs 8.3% in December) and furniture, radio, TV and household appliances (10.5% vs 19.8%). Additionally, trade in motor vehicles, motorcycles, parts fell (-4.5% vs 13.1%). In contrast, sales increased faster for food, beverages and tobacco products (4.2% vs 1.9%), pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and orthopedic equipment (9.6% vs 8.4%), textiles, clothing and footwear (17.6% vs 6%), and newspapers, books, other sales in specialized stores (8.1% vs 1.4%). On a monthly basis, retail activity declined sharply by 17.8% in January, reversing a 12.5% growth in the previous month.