08.04.202607:33:39UTC+00Slovakia Retail Sales Fall at Softer Pace

Retail sales in Slovakia fell by 2.5% year-on-year in February 2026, easing from a 3.7% decline in January and marking the fourth consecutive month of contraction. The downturn moderated in several categories, including food, beverages, and tobacco (-3.9% vs. -4.2% in January), automotive fuel (-1.8% vs. -4.9%), other goods (-0.5% vs. -4.2%), and trade conducted outside shops, stalls, and markets (-10% vs. -10.9%).

At the same time, growth weakened in sales of ICT equipment (18.4% vs. 27%) and goods for culture and recreation (1.8% vs. 7.9%), while trade in other household goods returned to positive territory (0.3% vs. -8.9%). In contrast, sales in non-specialized stores moved into decline (-1% vs. +0.5%), and steep falls continued for products sold in stalls and markets (-22.4% vs. -21.5%). On a monthly basis, retail trade edged up 0.1% in February, after a 1.2% decrease in January.