Measured in real terms (constant 2019 prices), retail trade sales increased by 1,6% year-on-year in February 2026. The largest positive contributors to this increase were:

·         all ‘other’ retailers (9,4% and contributing 1,0 percentage point); and

·         retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (3,9% and contributing 0,6 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales decreased by 1,0% in February 2026 compared with January 2026. This followed month-on-month changes of 0,9% in January 2026 and -0,5% in December 2025.

Retail trade sales increased by 2,8% in the three months ended February 2026 compared with the three months ended February 2025. The largest positive contributors to this increase were:

·         all ‘other’ retailers (9,3% and contributing 1,0 percentage point);

·         general dealers (2,0% and contributing 0,9 of a percentage point); and

·         retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (3,3% and contributing 0,7 of a percentage point).

The only negative contributor was retailers in food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores (-5,7% and contributing -0,5 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 0,5% in the three months ended February 2026 compared with the previous three months. The largest positive contributors were:

·         retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (1,5% and contributing 0,3 of a percentage point); and

·        all ‘other’ retailers (1,8% and contributing 0,2 of a percentage point).