Chile’s retail sector started 2026 with a moderation in growth, as year-on-year retail sales expansion slowed to 3.7% in January 2026, down from 4.5% recorded in December 2025. The fresh data, updated on 27 February 2026, indicate that while consumer spending continues to grow, the pace has cooled compared with the end of last year.
Both the current and previous readings are measured on a year-over-year basis, comparing each month’s retail sales to the same month a year earlier. Thus, January’s 3.7% figure reflects how retail activity stacked up against January of the prior year, while December’s 4.5% showed the change relative to December a year before.
The latest figures suggest that Chile’s retail sector remains in expansion mode, but with some loss of momentum as 2026 begins. Analysts and market participants will now watch upcoming monthly data to see whether this softer growth represents a brief pause or the start of a more sustained cooling in consumer demand.
