Retail sales in Colombia increased by 13.4% year-on-year in March 2026, exceeding market expectations of a 10.1% rise and quickening from the 10.9% growth recorded in February. The expansion was broad-based, with all 19 retail categories registering gains. The largest contributions came from motor vehicles and motorcycles mainly for household use (35.8%), other motor vehicles and motorcycles (34.8%), and computer and telecommunications equipment for personal or household use (26.8%).
Excluding fuel sales, real retail sales grew by 15.6%. Employment in the retail sector also rose, up 1.9% from a year earlier. For the first quarter of 2026 as a whole, retail sales were 10.8% higher than in the same period of 2025.
