Retail sales in Spain fell by 0.4% year-on-year in August 2026, matching the decline recorded in July and marking a second consecutive annual contraction. Automotive fuel sales posted the sharpest drop, down 7.1%. Sales of food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores decreased by 4.4%, while information and communication equipment sales fell 1.7% and household equipment edged down 0.2%.
By contrast, cultural and recreational goods saw robust growth of 11%. Retail trade conducted outside traditional stores, stalls and markets rose by 9.7%, driven in part by an 8.7% increase in internet and mail-order sales. Sales through stalls and markets also advanced, up 3.4%. Excluding service stations, overall retail trade grew by 0.3%, suggesting some resilience in the sector outside fuel-related activity. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, total retail trade increased by 0.3% in August, partially offsetting July’s 1% decline.
