2026.03.3009:54:05UTC+00Croatia Retail Sales Growth Edges Up

Retail sales in Croatia rose by 3.1% year-on-year in February 2026, slightly above the 3.0% increase recorded in January. The strongest growth was seen in non-food products excluding automotive fuels and lubricants, where sales advanced by 6.5% compared with 5.4% in the previous month. Trade excluding automotive fuels and lubricants in specialized stores also strengthened, rising 6.1% after a 5.6% gain in January, while retail sales via the internet or mail order accelerated sharply, up 13.0% versus 7.8% a month earlier.

In contrast, growth in sales of food, beverages, and tobacco moderated to 5.8% from 6.1%, and the decline in automotive fuels and lubricants deepened, with sales falling 8.7% after a 5.7% drop in January. Over the first two months of 2026, total retail sales were up 3.0% compared with the same period a year earlier. On a monthly basis, retail activity edged down 0.2% in February, a smaller contraction than the 1.2% decline recorded in the previous month.