Measured in real terms (constant 2019 prices), retail trade sales increased by 2,6% year-on-year in December 2025. The largest positive contributors to this increase were:

·         general dealers (3,9% and contributing 1,6 percentage points);

·         all ‘other’ retailers (8,3% and contributing 0,8 of a percentage point); and

·         retailers in household furniture, appliances and equipment (11,5% and contributing 0,5 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales decreased by 0,4% in December 2025 compared with November 2025. This followed month-on-month changes of 0,6% in November 2025 and 1,0% in October 2025.

In 2025, retail trade sales increased by 3,7% compared with 2024. Six of the seven types of retailers showed positive year-on-year growth rates over this period. The largest positive contributors were general dealers (2,8% and contributing 1,2 percentage points) and retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (6,0% and contributing 1,0 percentage point).

Retail trade sales increased by 3,0% in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared with the fourth quarter of 2024. The largest positive contributors to this increase were:

·         general dealers (2,4% and contributing 1,0 percentage point);

·         all ‘other’ retailers (8,2% and contributing 0,8 of a percentage point); and

·         retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (2,3% and contributing 0,5 of a percentage point).

The only negative contributor was retailers in food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores (-2,9% and contributing -0,3 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 0,8% in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared with the third quarter of 2025. The largest positive contributor was general dealers (1,1% and contributing 0,5 of a percentage point).

The largest negative contributor was retailers in hardware, paint and glass (-1,7% and contributing ‑0,1 of a percentage point).