Sweden’s retail sector showed robust momentum at the start of 2026, with retail sales rising 4.1% year-on-year in January. The latest data, updated on 27 February 2026, mark a sharp acceleration from December 2025, when sales grew 1.5% compared with the same month a year earlier.
Both figures are calculated on a year-over-year basis, comparing each month’s performance with the corresponding month in the previous year. The jump from 1.5% in December to 4.1% in January suggests a strengthening consumer environment and points to a solid beginning for Sweden’s retail activity in 2026. Investors and policymakers will be watching subsequent months closely to see whether this faster pace of growth can be sustained.
