Poland Retail Sales Growth Below Forecasts

Retail sales in Poland rose by 3% year-on-year in May 2026, following a 1.3% growth in the previous month, missing market expectations of a 3.8% gain. Sales increased for motor vehicles, motorcycles and parts (2.1% vs 0.8% in April), pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and orthopedic equipment (9.3% vs 9.1%), furniture, radio, TV, and household appliances (4.5% vs 1%), while activity contracted at a softer pace for food, beverages, and tobacco (-2.8% vs -5.8%) and newspapers, books, and other sales in specialized stores (-0.6% vs -5.9%). In addition, sales recovered sharply for textiles, clothing, and footwear (3.8% vs -9.5%). Meanwhile, sales growth moderated for solid, liquid, and gaseous fuels (9.9% vs 25.6%). On a monthly basis, retail sales fell 1.7% in May, easing from a 0.8% drop in the preceding period. Cumulatively, retail activity grew by 2.9% higher compared to the same period a year ago.

Retail sales in Poland grew by 1.3% year-on-year in April 2026, well below market expectations of a 3% increase and easing from an 8.7% rise in the previous month. The latest figure also marked the softest growth since October 2024, largely driven by sharp declines in sales for textiles, clothing, and footwear (-9.5% vs 13.6% in March), newspapers, books, other sales in specialized stores (-5.9% vs 1.1%), and food, beverages and tobacco products (-5.8% vs 4.3%). Turnover also increased at a slower pace for motor, vehicles, motorcycles, parts (0.8% vs 7.7%), furniture, radio, TV and household appliances (1% vs 7.9%), and others (5.5% vs 15.1%). Meanwhile, activity accelerated for solid, liquid and gaseous fuels (25.6% vs 16.2%). On a monthly basis, retail sales fell by 0.8% in April, reversing an 18.1% gain in the preceding period. Cumulatively, retail activity was 3.4% higher compared to the same period a year ago.

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.