Retail turnover in February dropped year-on-year, the deterioration came after 13 months of growth

The development of retail turnover in February confirmed a different trend, after a longer period of growth, retail establishments experienced turnover declines. The negative development affected up to 8 out of 9 retail components. Only specialized stores, such as textiles, footwear, drugstores and pharmacies, were prosperous.

Retail turnover¹⁾ in Slovakia in February 2025 decreased by 2.6% year-on-year, recording a lower year-on-year value for the first time since January 2024. After seasonal adjustment, it decreased by 0.8% compared to the previous month.

As many as 8 out of 9 retail turnover components recorded a lower turnover than a year ago. The overall decrease was due to lower year-on-year turnover in sale of fuel²⁾ by 9.8% and also in hobby markets, furniture and electronics stores (in specialized sales with household goods) by 9.5%. Turnover of the most significant component in terms of share – hyper- and supermarkets (non-specialized stores) decreased only slightly year-on-year, by 0.4%. The most dynamic decline, by more than a fifth, was recorded by specialized stores of sporting goods, bookstores and toys (specialized stores with goods for culture and recreation). This component has the second smallest share in the structure of the total retail turnover.

Only specialized stores, such as textile, footwear, drugstores or pharmacies (specialized stores with other goods), had higher turnover at constant prices than a year ago. Their turnover in the second month of the year increased by 5.3%, and they have been recording higher year-on-year values since October 2023.

In total retail turnover dropped by 0.9% in the first two months of 2025.

Development of other components of trade in February 2025

Of the other components of internal trade, only wholesale recorded higher turnover than a year ago (at current prices) during February 2025, by 6.6%. On the contrary, turnover (at constant prices) decreased in sale and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles by 9.6%, accommodation by 4%, and food and beverage service activities by 3.4%.

After seasonal adjustments, in the month-on-month comparison, higher turnover was recorded in  sale of motor vehicles including their repairs¹⁾ by 7.1%, wholesale³⁾ by 1% and accommodation¹⁾ by 6.2%. Food and beverage service activities¹⁾ had lower turnover by 2.6%.

In total, in the first two months of 2025, turnover rose year-on-year in wholesale³⁾ by 6%, in accommodation¹⁾ by 0.6% and in food and beverage service activities¹⁾ by 1%. On the contrary, it dropped more significantly in sale and repair of motor vehicles¹⁾ by 8.4%.