Cyprus recorded the highest monthly and annual increase in retail trade volume among the EU Member States for which data are available in May 2026, according to figures published by Eurostat.
Specifically, the seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade in Cyprus increased by 3.7% in May 2026 compared with April, while on an annual basis, compared with May 2025, it rose by 8.4%.
According to Eurostat, the monthly increase followed a 0.9% decline in April 2026. In the preceding months, retail trade volume in Cyprus had increased by 0.6% in December 2025, decreased by 1.2% in January 2026, and increased by 0.7% in February and 0.6% in March.
On an annual basis, Cyprus recorded increases of 9.0% in December 2025, 8.9% in January 2026, 5.0% in February, 6.1% in March, 2.7% in April and 8.4% in May.
Across the European Union, the seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade increased by 0.5% in May 2026 compared with April, while in the euro area it rose by 0.2%. In April 2026, retail trade volume had fallen by 0.6% in the EU and by 0.3% in the euro area.
Compared with May 2025, the calendar-adjusted retail sales index increased by 1.9% in the European Union and by 1.6% in the euro area.
(Source: CNA)
