Retail sales decreased 0.4% month over month in December 2025, following a 1.0% increase in November. Six of the eight core categories reported declines: pharmaceuticals (-5.1%), books (-2.0%), other personal goods (-1.8%), furniture and appliances (-0.7%), apparel (-0.4%), and supermarkets (-0.3%). In contrast, sales of office and IT equipment rose 6.0%, while fuel sales edged up 0.3%.
Extended retail sales—which include vehicles, construction materials, and wholesale food—fell 1.2% on the month. Vehicle sales dropped 2.4%, and construction materials were down 2.8%. On a year-over-year basis, overall retail sales increased 2.3%. For 2025 as a whole, the sector grew 1.6%, marking its ninth consecutive year of expansion.
