Nicosia, Cyprus. Retail sales in Cyprus recorded the strongest annual growth in the European Union in December 2025, according to Eurostat, even as retail trade volumes declined month-on-month across the euro area and the EU. Cyprus posted an annual increase of 8.2% in total retail trade volume compared with December 2024.
Cyprus leads annual growth among member states
Eurostat said Cyprus recorded the highest annual rise among all member states for which data were available, ahead of Bulgaria and Luxembourg.
Monthly retail volumes fall in euro area and EU
Across the euro area, retail trade volume fell by 0.5% in December 2025 compared with November 2025, after a 0.1% increase in November. In the EU as a whole, retail trade volume also declined by 0.5% month-on-month in December, following a 0.2% rise in November.
Annual performance and 2025 average
On an annual basis, the calendar-adjusted retail sales index rose by 1.3% in the euro area and by 1.7% in the EU in December 2025. Despite the weaker monthly performance, the average level of retail trade volume for 2025 increased by 2.3% in both the euro area and the EU compared with 2024.
Euro area breakdown by product category
Within the euro area, retail volumes for food, drinks and tobacco increased by 0.1% in December 2025 compared with November. Non-food products excluding automotive fuel declined by 1.2% on a monthly basis, while retail volumes for automotive fuel in specialised stores were unchanged.
How do you think Cyprus’s retail growth in December 2025 could affect consumer confidence?
