Retail sales in Switzerland climbed by 3.5% year-on-year in May 2026, far exceeding market expectations for a 0.8% gain and accelerating from a slightly upwardly revised 1.7% rise in the previous month. The latest reading also marked the fastest growth in retail activity since June last year, driven largely by higher sales for non-food products excluding service stations, rising 4% from 2.3% in April. In the non-food sector, revenues mainly increased for information and communication equipment (9% vs 0.3%), other goods (6.5% vs 0.8%), and via stalls and markets; mail order and internet (4.2% vs 1.8%). Turnover also rose faster for food, beverages and tobacco, up 2.6% from 0.5%. In contrast, activity declined further in service stations (-6.1% vs -2.7%). Meanwhile, overall retail trade excluding service stations advanced 3.4% after rising 1.3% in the prior month. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail sales grew by 0.5% in May, following an upwardly revised 0.2% gain in April. source: Swiss Federal Statistical Office

Retail Sales in Switzerland increased 3.50 percent in May of 2026 over the same month in the previous year. Retail Sales YoY in Switzerland averaged 1.47 percent from 2001 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 38.00 percent in April of 2021 and a record low of -18.30 percent in April of 2020. This page provides the latest reported value for - Switzerland Retail Sales YoY - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Switzerland Retail Sales YoY - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on July of 2026.

Retail Sales in Switzerland increased 3.50 percent in May of 2026 over the same month in the previous year. Retail Sales YoY in Switzerland is expected to be -1.80 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Switzerland Retail Sales YoY is projected to trend around 1.60 percent in 2027 and 1.90 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-06-01 06:30 AM
Retail Sales YoY
Apr 1.6% 1.3% 0.2% 1.0%
2026-07-01 06:30 AM
Retail Sales YoY
May 3.5% 1.7% 0.8% 1.3%
2026-07-31 06:30 AM
Retail Sales YoY
Jun 3.5% -1.8%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Consumer Confidence -36.00 -38.00 points Jun 2026
Consumer Spending 102129.00 102142.00 CHF Million Mar 2026
Gasoline Prices 2.32 2.41 USD/Liter Jun 2026
Households Debt to GDP 123.00 122.10 percent of GDP Dec 2025
Personal Savings 18.10 17.70 percent Dec 2024
Retail Sales MoM 0.50 0.20 percent May 2026
Retail Sales YoY 3.50 1.70 percent May 2026


Switzerland Retail Sales YoY
In Switzerland, the year-over-year change in Retail sales compares the aggregated sales of retail goods and services during a certain month to the same month a year ago.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
3.50 1.70 38.00 -18.30 2001 - 2026 percent Monthly
Constant Prices, WDA

News Stream
Swiss Retail Sales Growth Hits 11-Month High
Retail sales in Switzerland climbed by 3.5% year-on-year in May 2026, far exceeding market expectations for a 0.8% gain and accelerating from a slightly upwardly revised 1.7% rise in the previous month. The latest reading also marked the fastest growth in retail activity since June last year, driven largely by higher sales for non-food products excluding service stations, rising 4% from 2.3% in April. In the non-food sector, revenues mainly increased for information and communication equipment (9% vs 0.3%), other goods (6.5% vs 0.8%), and via stalls and markets; mail order and internet (4.2% vs 1.8%). Turnover also rose faster for food, beverages and tobacco, up 2.6% from 0.5%. In contrast, activity declined further in service stations (-6.1% vs -2.7%). Meanwhile, overall retail trade excluding service stations advanced 3.4% after rising 1.3% in the prior month. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail sales grew by 0.5% in May, following an upwardly revised 0.2% gain in April.
2026-07-01
Swiss April Retail Sales Beat Forecasts
Retail sales in Switzerland rose by 1.6% year-on-year in April 2026, far exceeding market estimates for a 0.2% rise, following an upwardly revised 1% gain in the previous month. Sales in the non-food sector excluding service stations led the upturn, rising 2.5% from 2.2% in March, driven largely by higher revenues for other household equipment, textiles, DIY and furniture (3.2% vs -3.1%) and cultural and recreational goods (1.1% vs 2.9%), which partly offset declines in information and communication equipment (-1.7% vs 2.95). Additionally, turnover recovered for food, beverages and tobacco, up 0.3% after a 0.8% loss in the prior month. Overall retail trade excluding service stations also increased at a faster pace (1.4% vs 1%). In contrast, sales in service stations declined 0.5%, reversing a 3.3% in March. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail sales edged up by 0.1% in April, easing from a 0.3% gain in the preceding period.
2026-06-01
Swiss Retail Sales Rise Less than Expected
Retail sales in Switzerland increased by 0.5% year-on-year in March 2026, missing market expectations of a 1% gain, following a downwardly revised 0.4% rise in the previous month. Sales at service stations jumped by 5.3%, accelerating from a 1.4% increase in February. However, sales of food, beverages, and tobacco (-1.6% vs -1.3%) dropped further, and non-food sales excluding service stations slowed down (0.9% vs 2.1%). Within the non-food sector, a sharp increase in sales of cultural and recreational goods (7% vs 0.1%) and a rebound in sales via stalls and markets; mail order and internet (0.2% vs -1.7%) were partly offset by declines in sales of household equipment, textiles, DIY, and furniture (-5.2% vs -1%) and information and communication equipment (-1% vs -3.2%). Without service stations, total retail sales were unchanged, following a downwardly revised 0.6% gain in February. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, sales edged up by 0.1%, after a revised 0.1% fall in February.
2026-05-01