Poland’s retail sales rose by 3.8% year-on-year in August 2026, slightly below the 3.9% increase recorded in July. Growth weakened in several categories, including food, beverages, and tobacco (1.0% vs 1.5% in July), as well as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and orthopaedic equipment (6.2% vs 10.8%).
By contrast, sales growth strengthened for motor vehicles, motorcycles, and parts (11.7% vs 8.1%), furniture, radio, TV, and household appliances (10.6% vs 8.8%), and other retail categories (11.1% vs 9.2%).
Moreover, some segments moved from contraction to expansion. Sales of solid, liquid, and gaseous fuels returned to growth (1.1% vs -0.2%), as did sales in newspapers, books, and other specialized stores (2.7% vs -1.2%). Meanwhile, the downturn in textiles, clothing, and footwear deepened (-2.7% vs -1.7%).
On a monthly basis, retail sales decreased by 0.3% in August, following a 2.2% gain in July. Over the January–August period, retail sales were 3.4% higher than in the same period a year earlier.
