Against April 2026, retail marked a 1.2% advance in unadjusted data.
In data adjusted to the number of working days and seasonality, retail posted a 5.3% decline in the first five months of the year and a 4.7% against the year-earlier period. Compared with April, in May there was a 1.3% increase.
In the January-May 2026 period compared to the January-May 2025 period, retail sales volume (excluding the trade with motor vehicles and motorcycles) in unadjusted data decreased by 5.5% overall due to declines in sales of non-food items (-7.9%), foodstuffs, beverages and tobacco (-3.7%) and fuel sales in specialized stores (-2.8%).
In adjusted data, retail sales dropped 5.3% amid declines registered by non-food item sales (-7.7%), foodstuffs, beverages and tobacco (-3.5%) and fuel sales in specialized stores (-1.7%).
In May 2026, the 4.5% year-on-year decline was due to lower sales of fuel in specialized stores (-5.5%), non-food items (-4.8%) and sales of foodstuffs, beverages and tobacco (-3.5%).
At the same time, the 1.2% increase against April was supported by higher sales of non-food items (plus 3.2% and foodstuffs, beverages and tobacco (plus 0.5%). Fuel sales in specialized stores went down by 2.3% in May against April.
(English version by Catalina Apostoiu)