Sweden Retail Sales Growth Slows to 5-Month Low

Retail sales in Sweden increased by 5.5% year-on-year in September 2026, slowing from an upwardly revised 7.2% rise in the previous month. This was the smallest gain in retail sales since April. Growth moderated for consumables (excluding Systembolaget) (5.0% vs 5.4% in August) and durable goods (5.7% vs 9.0%). Among selected sub-industries, smaller increases were seen in sales of medical and cosmetic goods (14.1% vs 26.9%) and optical goods (9.2% vs 16.5%), while declines were recorded in watches and jewellery (-8.9% vs 5.5%) and bookstores (-6.2% vs -3.6%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail sales fell by 0.4%, the first drop since February, reversing an upwardly revised 0.9% increase in August.

Retail sales in Sweden rose by 6.9% year-on-year in August 2026 from an upwardly revised 6.5% in the previous month. Activity increased in consumables excluding Systembolaget (5.6% vs 5.4% in July), other non-specialized stores (7.5% vs 6.9%), petrol stations (18.8% vs 6.1%), bookshops (7.4% vs 6.9%), sports shops (6.7% vs 6.1%), and specialized stores except state liquor stores (12.2% vs 11.9%). On the other hand, sales growth moderated in non-specialized stores (5.0% vs 5.3%) and durable goods (8.4% vs 9.0%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail trade grew by 0.8% in August, rebounding from an upwardly revised 0.1% fall in July.

Retail sales in Sweden increased 6.2% year-on-year in July 2026, easing from an upwardly revised 7.7% rise in the previous month. The moderation was mainly driven by weaker durable goods sales (8.6% vs 10.4% in June) and non-specialised stores (5.4% vs 5.7%). Meanwhile, sales of consumables excluding Systembolaget strengthened slightly (5.3% vs 5.0%), while petrol station sales accelerated sharply (5.7% vs 0.8%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail sales fell 0.2% in July 2026, reversing an upwardly revised 1.4% increase in the previous month. Over the latest three-month period (May–July), the calendar-adjusted and seasonally adjusted retail sales volume was 2.3% higher than in the preceding three-month period (February–April).