Retail sales in Switzerland increased by 1.6% year-on-year in September 2026, slowing from an upwardly revised 3.9% rise in August and marking the weakest growth since March. The deceleration was mainly driven by a downturn in sales of food, beverages, and tobacco, which fell by 0.4% after a 3.6% increase in the previous month. Growth in non-food sales also moderated to 1.7% from 3.3% in August.
Within the non-food segment, sales of information and communication technology equipment declined by 1.0%, following a 0.7% increase previously. Growth also weakened in other household equipment, textiles, DIY products, and furniture, with sales up 1.1% compared with 2.0% in August, and in other goods, where growth slowed to 2.8% from 5.2%.
By contrast, sales at stalls and markets, as well as in mail-order and internet retail, accelerated, rising 5.0% year-on-year after a 2.9% increase in August.
Retail sales excluding service stations were up 0.9%, following a 3.6% gain in the previous month. In contrast, sales including service stations dropped by 7.7%, after an 8.1% decline in August. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, total retail sales fell by 0.7% in September, reversing part of an upwardly revised 0.6% increase recorded in August.
