11.03.202607:41:26UTC+00Turkey Retail Sales Growth Nears 2-Year High

Retail sales in Turkey rose by 18.8% year-on-year in January 2026, quickening from an upwardly revised 16.5% increase in December. This was the strongest expansion in retail activity since March 2024, largely supported by robust growth in non-food sales (26.4% vs 20.2% in December). Within this category, the sharpest gains were recorded in computers, books, and communication devices (43.1% vs 30.1%); mail-order and internet sales (29.7% vs 17.4%); medical products and cosmetics (15.4% vs 22.7%); and textiles, clothing, and footwear (14.9% vs 6.6%).

By contrast, growth in sales of electrical appliances and furniture slowed markedly (2% vs 8.7%). Momentum also weakened for food, beverages, and tobacco (9.5% vs 10.2%), as well as for automotive fuel (0.5% vs 8.6%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail trade increased by 2.4% in January, the strongest monthly gain in four months, following an upwardly revised 1.9% rise in the previous period.