Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus recorded the highest monthly increase in retail trade volume among European Union member states in May 2026, according to figures published by Eurostat. Retail trade volume in Cyprus rose by 3.7 per cent from April to May 2026.
EU and euro area performance
Across the euro area, seasonally adjusted retail trade volume increased by 0.2 per cent in May 2026. In the EU as a whole, retail trade volume rose by 0.5 per cent.
The growth followed declines recorded in April 2026, when retail trade volume fell by 0.3 per cent in the euro area and by 0.6 per cent in the EU.
Annual comparison
Compared with May 2025, the calendar adjusted retail sales index increased by 1.6 per cent in the euro area and by 1.9 per cent in the EU in May 2026.
Sector trends
In the euro area, the monthly volume of retail trade for food, drinks, and tobacco rose by 0.6 per cent. Sales of non-food products, excluding automotive fuel, increased by 0.1 per cent, while the volume for automotive fuel in specialised stores decreased by 0.5 per cent.
In the EU, food, drinks, and tobacco also increased by 0.6 per cent, while non-food products rose by 0.5 per cent. Sales of automotive fuel in specialised stores fell by 0.4 per cent.
Other member states
After Cyprus, Luxembourg recorded a monthly increase of 3.6 per cent and Poland posted growth of 2.4 per cent.
