2026.04.3009:09:51UTC+00Croatia Retail Sales at 3-Month High

Croatia’s retail sales rose 3.3% year-on-year in March 2026, up from 3.1% in February and reaching their highest growth rate since December 2025. The acceleration was driven mainly by stronger sales of non-food products excluding automotive fuels and lubricants, which increased by 8% after a 6.5% rise in February. At the same time, the decline in sales of automotive fuels and lubricants eased, with activity down 4.7% compared with an 8.7% drop in the previous month.

By contrast, growth slowed in several segments: sales of food, beverages, and tobacco increased by 3.1%, down from 5.8% in February; trade in specialized stores excluding automotive fuels and lubricants grew by 4.6%, compared with 6.1% previously; and retail sales via the internet or mail order rose by 4.9%, a marked deceleration from 13% in the prior month.

On a monthly basis, retail activity expanded by 0.9% in March, rebounding from a 0.2% decline in February. Over the first quarter of 2026 (January–March), retail sales were 3.1% higher than in the same period a year earlier.