Swiss Retail Sales Beat Expectations

Retail sales in Switzerland rose 2.3% year-on-year in July 2026, accelerating from an upwardly revised 1.9% increase in June and surpassing market expectations of 1.3%. Growth in non-food sales excluding petrol stations strengthened to 1.8% from 1.5%, driven by rebounds in other goods (2.2% vs -1.2%) and sales via stalls and markets, as well as mail-order and internet retail trade (3.8% vs -1.9%). However, growth slowed for information and communication technology products (2.8% vs 13.2%) and other household equipment, textiles, DIY and furnishing supplies (0.8% vs 1.7%), while declines deepened for publishing products, sports equipment and toys (-2.0% vs -0.6%). Overall retail activity was also supported by a return to growth in sales at petrol stations (0.2% vs -7.8%). In contrast, sales of food, beverages and tobacco products eased (1.2% vs 2.0%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail activity edged down to 0.1% from 0.3% in June, marking its lowest reading since April.

Retail sales in Switzerland rose by 1.5% year-on-year in June 2026, falling short of market expectations for a 3.2% increase and slowing from a downwardly revised eleven-month high of 3.4% gain in the previous month. The slowdown reflected weaker momentum across most retail categories, with overall trade excluding service stations easing to 1.5% from 3.2% in May. Among non-food retailers, turnover growth also slowed to 1% from 3.8%, largely driven by declines in sales of other goods (-1.9% vs 5.3%) and via mail order and the internet (-3.7% vs 6.0%). At the same time, revenues for food, beverages and tobacco moderated to 2.1% from 2.5%, while activity at service stations remained weak, declining 9.6% after a 6.1% drop in May. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail sales grew by 0.2% in June, the softest rise since October last year and slowing from an upwardly revised 0.9% gain in the preceding period.

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.