FX.co ★ Russia Retail Trade Growth Picks Up in March

Retail sales in Russia rose 6.2% year-on-year in March 2026, the strongest increase in five months, following an upwardly revised 2% gain in February. The expansion was primarily driven by non-food products, with sales jumping 9.1% after a 3.4% rise in the previous month. Expenditure on food products also accelerated, growing 3.1% compared to 0.6% in February. On a monthly basis, retail sales surged 14.9% in March, rebounding from a revised 2% decline in the prior month. Over the first quarter, retail sales were up 3.6%, compared with 2.8% in the same period a year earlier.