Retail sales in Poland increased by 5% year-on-year in February 2026, up from 4.4% in January but below market expectations of a 6.1% rise. Sales rebounded in the category of motor vehicles, motorcycles and parts (2.7% after a 4.5% decline in January), while growth accelerated notably in solid, liquid and gaseous fuels (10.2% vs 4.6%).
In contrast, the pace of growth slowed in several key categories: food, beverages and tobacco products (0.2% vs 4.2%), pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and orthopedic equipment (5.5% vs 9.6%), textiles, clothing and footwear (0.8% vs 17.6%), as well as furniture, radio, TV and household appliances (7.2% vs 10.5%). At the same time, activity declined in newspapers, books and other goods sold in specialized stores, where sales fell 9.3% after an 8.1% increase previously.
On a monthly basis, overall retail sales dropped by 5.6% in February, following a sharper 17.8% decline in the preceding month.
