Retail sales in Taiwan surged 7.7% year-on-year in February 2026, rebounding from a 3.4% decline in January. This marked the strongest growth since February 2024, supported by a sharp recovery in several categories: general merchandise (22.9% vs. -6.4% in January), textiles and clothing (27.3% vs. -8.8%), food, beverages, and tobacco (20.1% vs. -4.2%), household appliances and goods (13.6% vs. -1.8%), and cultural and recreation goods (13.8% vs. -2.4%).
Sales also continued to expand for pharmaceutical and medical goods and cosmetics (9.6% vs. 0.7%), as well as information and communications equipment and electrical household appliances (5.9% vs. 5.0%).
By contrast, growth slowed for trade not conducted in stores or stalls (0.1% vs. 9.9%) and for e-shops and mail-order houses (1.3% vs. 12.6%). Meanwhile, sales of motor vehicles, motorcycles, and related parts (-25.4% vs. -6.7%) and of fuel and related products (-8.6% vs. -8.2%) declined more sharply.
On a monthly basis, retail sales fell 11.0%, deepening from a 1.7% drop in January.
