ROMA (ITALPRESS) – 2026 opens with a conjunctural increase in retail sales, both on a monthly basis and on a quarterly basis, extended to both sectors of goods, but more marked for the food sector. Even compared to January of last year a positive dynamic is observed, both in value and in volume, with wider increases for the sales of food than non-food.
Also on a yearly basis, growth mainly concerns sales of large online distribution and commerce, those of small surfaces see a slight increase, while sales outside shops decrease. This is what emerges from Istat data on retail trade for January 2026. In particular, in January 2026 retail sales recorded, compared to the previous month, growth in both value and volume (respectively +0.6% and +0.4%).
The increase mainly concerns food (+1.1% in value and +0.9% in volume), while it is modest for non-food goods (+0.2% in value and +0.1% in volume). In the quarter of November 2025 – January 2026, in economic terms, retail sales recorded an increase in value (+0.5%) and in volume (+0.2%).
The increases concern both food (+0.6% in value and +0.3% in volume), and non-food goods (+0.3% in value and volume). In January 2026, retail sales recorded a growth of 2.3% in value and 0.9% in volume.
The increase is more consistent for food (+3.9% in value and +1.5% in volume), less marked for non-food (+1.2% in value and +0.4% in volume). With regard to non-food goods, positive tendencies are recorded for almost all groups of products. The increase in IT, telecommunications and telephony equipment (+3.9%), while the biggest decline is observed in footwear, leather and travel articles (-2.2%).
Compared to January 2025, the value of retail sales is increasing consistent for the large distribution (+4.1%) and electronic commerce (+4.6%), while it grows modestly for small-scale businesses (+0.2%); finally, sales fall outside stores (-1.7%).
-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).
