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.

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.

Retail sales in Switzerland rose by 0.9% year-on-year in February 2026, rebounding from a downwardly revised 0.6% fall in the previous month. Turnover in the non-food sector excluding fuel recovered, rising 2.8% after a 1% drop in January, driven mainly by higher sales of other goods (5% vs -1.3%) and information and communication equipment (0.2% vs 2.3%), while activity declined less for cultural and recreation goods (-0.5% vs -5.6%). Overall retail trade excluding fuel stations also rebounded (1.1% vs -0.7%). On the other hand, sales decreased at a faster pace for food, beverages and tobacco (-1.1% vs -0.2%), while growth slowed for fuel retailing (2.1% vs 3.2%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail activity went up by 0.4% in February, following a revised 1.6% drop in the preceding period.