Slovakia Jan. retail sales fall 3.7% y/y

Slovakia Jan. retail sales fall 3.7% y/y

Retail sales in Slovakia declined by 5.0% year-on-year in December 2025, marking the second consecutive monthly contraction and the sharpest drop since September 2023 according to Trading Economics. The decline was broad-based, with significant falls in sales of food, beverages, and tobacco (-19.9% y/y), non-specialized stores (-2.5% y/y), and other goods in specialized stores (-2.0% y/y). These categories reflected deepening weakness in consumer demand amid ongoing economic pressures.

Notable exceptions included growth in ICT equipment sales, which rose 8.8% y/y, outpacing the previous month's 2.9% increase. Sales of automotive fuel also rebounded, rising 4.2% y/y after a 0.6% decline in November 2025. Similarly, sales via stalls and markets surged 10.5% y/y, reversing a 17.5% drop in the prior month. However, declines persisted for cultural and recreational goods (-6.7% y/y) and trade outside traditional retail outlets (-14.8% y/y).

On a monthly basis, retail trade remained flat in December, following a 0.7% drop in both October and November 2025. The trend of declining sales, particularly in essential goods, highlights sustained challenges for the retail sector. Analysts attribute the contraction to persistent inflationary pressures and reduced consumer confidence, though pockets of growth in technology and fuel sectors suggest some resilience in specific categories.

Trading Economics, December 2025 retail sales data: Trading Economics, December 2025 retail sales data.
Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic, November 2025 report: Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic, November 2025 report.