Slovakia Retail Sales Drop Most in Over 2 Years

Retail sales in Slovakia fell 3.7% year-on-year in January 2026, easing from a 5% drop in the previous month and marking the third consecutive month of decline. The contraction slowed for food, beverages and tobacco (-4.2% vs -19.9% in December), trade outside stores, stalls or markets (-10.9% vs -14.8%), and other household equipment in specialized stores (-8.9% vs -9.9%). At the same time, sales recovered in non-specialized stores (0.5% vs -2.5%) and cultural and recreational goods (7.9% vs -6.7%), while growth accelerated sharply in ICT equipment (27% vs 8.8%). Meanwhile, sales contracted for automotive fuel (-4.9% vs 4.2%) and products sold via stalls and markets (-21.5% vs 10.5%), both reversing earlier gains, while declines deepened for other goods in specialized stores (-4.2% vs -2%). On a monthly basis, retail trade fell 1.2% in January, after posting a flat reading in the previous month.

Retail sales in Slovakia fell by 5% year-on-year in December 2025, following a 3.2% drop in the previous month. This marked the second consecutive month of contraction in retail sales, and the sharpest since September 2023, as sales declined further for food, beverages, and tobacco (-19.9% vs -12.6%), non-specialized stores (-2.5% vs 0.6%), and other goods in specialized stores (-2% vs 0.5%). On the other hand, activity increased for ICT equipment (8.8% vs 2.9%), while it decreased at a softer pace for cultural and recreational goods (-6.7% vs -12%) and trade outside stores, stalls, or markets (-14.8% vs -17.5%). Sales also recovered for automotive fuel (4.2% vs -0.6%) and products via stalls and markets (10.5 vs -17.5%). On a monthly basis, retail trade recorded a flat reading in December from a 0.7% drop in the previous two months.

Retail sales in Slovakia fell by 3.2% year-on-year in November 2025, reversing a 0.6% gain in the previous month. This marked the sharpest drop in retail activity since December 2023, as sales decreased for ICT equipment (2.9% vs 3.9% in October) and other goods in specialized stores (0.5% vs 11.3%) At the same time, purchases dropped for automotive fuel (-0.6% vs 0.8%), cultural and recreational goods (-12% vs 0.6%), while sales declined further for food, beverages, and tobacco (-12.6% vs -9.8%), vial stalls and markets (-17.5% vs -15.7%), and trade outside stores, stalls, or markets (-17.5% vs -7.3%). Meanwhile, purchases recovered for non-specialized stores (0.6% vs -0.1%). On a monthly basis, retail trade decreased by 0.7%, matching the pace seen in October.