Colombia’s real retail sales increased by 7.3% year-on-year in August 2026, up from 5.3% in July, though below market expectations of an 8.5% rise. The largest positive contributions came from sales of motor vehicles and motorcycles for household use (35.8%), other motor vehicles and motorcycles (26.2%), household appliances and furnishings (11.3%), and personal hygiene products, cosmetics, and perfumes (10.2%).
These gains were partly offset by declines in sales of computer and telecommunications equipment for personal and home use (-4.7%) and clothing and textiles (-5.9%), which continued to weigh on overall growth. Meanwhile, employment in the retail sector rose 1.4% year-on-year, accelerating from a 1.0% increase in the previous month.
