Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus recorded a monthly increase in retail trade volume in March 2026, according to Eurostat, outperforming the euro area where retail sales declined during the same period.
Cyprus monthly performance
Eurostat said seasonally adjusted retail trade volume in Cyprus rose by 0.5% in March 2026 compared with February 2026, while the euro area registered a decline of 0.1% and the EU recorded an increase of 0.3%.
Cyprus posted a second consecutive monthly increase after retail trade volumes rose by 0.7% in February 2026, following a decline of 1.2% in January 2026.
Eurostat data also showed Cyprus recorded a 0.8% increase in October 2025.
Euro area and EU breakdown
Across the euro area, retail trade volumes in March 2026 declined month-on-month as sales of food, drinks and tobacco fell by 0.3%, while automotive fuel in specialised stores dropped by 1.6%.
Sales of non-food products excluding automotive fuel in the euro area increased by 0.6%.
Within the EU, retail trade volumes fell by 0.1% for food, drinks and tobacco, while non-food products excluding automotive fuel increased by 1.0% and automotive fuel sales declined by 0.8%.
Member state changes
Among EU member states with available data, the strongest monthly increases in retail trade volume were recorded in Slovenia at 4.3%, Luxembourg at 4.0%, and Belgium at 3.6%.
The largest monthly declines were observed in Germany at 2.1%, followed by Malta at 0.4%, while Italy and Latvia each posted declines of 0.1%.
Annual comparison
On an annual basis, Eurostat said the calendar-adjusted retail sales index increased by 1.2% in the euro area and by 1.9% in the EU in March 2026 compared with March 2025.
How do you think changes in retail trade volumes affect consumer spending in Cyprus?
