Retail sales in Croatia increased by 0.5% year-on-year in May 2026, slowing from a 2.0% rise in April and marking the weakest growth since March 2023. Growth in sales of food, beverages, and tobacco moderated to 1.9% from 2.6% in the previous month. At the same time, sales of non-food products excluding automotive fuels and lubricants were flat, compared with a 2.8% increase in April.
By contrast, the decline in sales of automotive fuels and lubricants eased, with volumes falling 11.8% year-on-year after a 15.1% drop in April. Meanwhile, internet and mail-order retail sales returned to growth, rising 3.6% following a 3.6% contraction in the prior month.
On a monthly basis, retail trade fell by 2.0% in May, deepening from a 0.2% decline in April. Over the first five months of the year (January–May), overall retail activity was up 2.3% compared with the same period a year earlier.
