Retail sales in Cyprus rose 7.8% year-on-year in August 2026, slowing from an 8.9% increase in July. Growth moderated across several categories, including information and communication equipment (24.8% vs 25.6% in July), other household equipment (12.0% vs 16.9%), cultural and recreation goods (12.7% vs 13.2%), flowers, plants, watches, jewellery, optical goods and second-hand goods (1.3% vs 3.7%), as well as food, beverages and tobacco in non-specialised stores (5.1% vs 6.0%).
By contrast, growth strengthened for clothing and footwear (16.7% vs 16.4%) and for pharmaceuticals, orthopaedic goods and cosmetics (7.1% vs 6.5%). Sales of food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores also improved slightly but remained in contraction (-1.0% vs -0.9%).
In addition, automotive fuel sales swung into decline (-1.5% vs +3.4%), while retail sales not in stores fell sharply (-7.0% vs +17.0%).
Over the January–August period, retail sales excluding automotive fuel were up 6.4% compared with the same period a year earlier.
