Portugal Retail Sales Growth Slows

Portugal's retail sales rose 3.2% year-on-year in May 2026, slowing from an upwardly revised 5.2% increase in April and marking a third consecutive month of weaker growth. Sales of food products rose 1.6%, slightly below the 1.8% gain in the previous month. Non-food sales also slowed to 4.3% from 7.6%, reflecting a sharper decline in fuel sales (-9.7% vs -2.4%) and softer growth in household goods (12.2% vs 13.1%), textiles (11.3% vs 14.2%), pharmaceutical products and cosmetics (6.5% vs 7.1%), and computers, telecommunications equipment and books (1.8% vs 7.8%). On a monthly basis, retail sales rebounded 0.3% in May after falling 0.7% in April.

Retail sales in Portugal increased 4.9% year-on-year in April 2026, easing from an upwardly revised 6% rise in March. Also, wholesale trade growth decelerated to 1.5% from 4.4%. In contrast, the trade, maintenance, and repair of motor vehicles sector strengthened, with growth accelerating to 12.2% from 9.2% in March. On a monthly basis, retail sales fell 0.7%, reversing part of the 2.3% increase recorded in March. Meanwhile, employment increased by 0.7% year-on-year in April, while wages rose 6.1% and hours worked increased 1.9%.

Retail sales in Portugal increased 5.5% year-on-year in March 2026, the most in four months, following a downwardly revised 2.8% rise in February. Sales of non-food products surged by 7.7%, from 1.8% in February, led by fuel sales (4.9% versus 2.8%), pharmaceutical products and cosmetics (5.6% versus 3.6%) and clothing and textiles (5.9% versus 2.1%). Meanwhile, sales for computers, telecommunications equipment, and books rebounded sharply, rising 9.6% after a 1.9% decline. On the other hand, growth in food, beverages, and tobacco moderated to 2.5%, easing from a 4.2% rise. On a monthly basis, retail sales grew by 1.8%, up from a 0.6% decline in February.