Serbia Retail Sales Growth Slows in August

Retail sales in Serbia rose by 6.3% year-on-year in August 2026, slowing from an 8.2% increase in the previous month. Sales increased across all categories, including food, beverages and tobacco (9.0%), automotive fuel in specialized stores (6.2%), and non-food products excluding automotive fuel (2.8%). From the previous month, real retail sales declined by 0.7%.

Real retail sales in Serbia rose by 6.2% from the previous year in May of 2026, picking up from the 5.6% increase in the previous month. Sales increased broadly throughout the Serbian economy, including retail trade of non-food products (5%), automotive fuel in specialized stores (6.6%), and food, beverages, and tobacco (7.1%). From the previous month, real retail sales expanded by 0.9%.

Retail sales in Serbia increased by 4.6% year-on-year in February 2026, the lowest increase in five months, down from 5.5% increase in January. Turnover rebounded for automotive fuel in specialized stores, increasing 2.3% from a 1.8% decline in the previous month, while food, beverage and tobacco turnover increased slightly to 5.3% from 5.2%. In contrast, non-food products excluding energy turnover growth eased to 4.8% from 8.8%. On a monthly basis, retail sales declined by 4.3%, easing from a 20.3% decline in the previous month.