Retail sales in Switzerland rose by 2.3% year-on-year in July 2026, picking up from an upwardly revised 1.9% increase in June and beating market expectations of 1.3%. Growth in non-food sales excluding petrol stations strengthened to 1.8% from 1.5%, supported by a rebound in “other goods” (2.2% vs -1.2%) and in sales via stalls and markets, as well as mail-order and internet retail trade (3.8% vs -1.9%).
By contrast, growth moderated for information and communication technology products (2.8% vs 13.2%) and for other household equipment, textiles, DIY and furnishing supplies (0.8% vs 1.7%), while declines deepened in publishing products, sports equipment and toys (-2.0% vs -0.6%).
Overall retail activity also benefited from a return to growth in sales at petrol stations (0.2% vs -7.8%). In contrast, sales of food, beverages and tobacco products lost momentum, easing to 1.2% from 2.0%. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail activity slowed to 0.1% from 0.3% in June, its weakest reading since April.
