Cyprus retail sales jump as 2026 begins with consumer surge

Retail trade turnover in Cyprus increased in both value and volume terms during January of this year, according to figures released by the Cyprus Statistical Service (Cystat).

The service reported that both the value index of retail trade turnover and the volume index of retail trade turnover recorded gains compared with January 2025.

Specifically, the value index of retail trade turnover rose by 7.4 per cent in January 2026 compared with the corresponding month of 2025.

During the same month, the volume index of retail trade turnover increased by 8.3 per cent year-on-year.

The figures indicate continued resilience in consumer spending activity at the start of the year.

They also reflect stronger retail market performance compared with the same period in 2025.

The increase in value suggests higher total sales receipts across the sector.

At the same time, the rise in volume points to growth in the actual quantity of goods sold.

Taken together, the data highlight a positive start to 2026 for Cyprus’ retail sector.

The January performance builds on broader trends in domestic economic activity, as measured by official indicators.

The January performance builds on broader trends in domestic economic activity, as measured by official indicators, which showed that Cyprus recorded broad-based economic growth in 2025, with strong gains across multiple sectors.

Manufacturing production during January to November 2025 increased by 4.4 per cent compared with the same period of 2024.

Activity in the construction sector accelerated significantly, as the total area of building permits authorised reached 2,612,000 square metres during January to October 2025, marking a rise of 30.7 per cent compared with the corresponding period of 2024.

Total registrations of motor vehicles rose by 5.8 per cent to 52,508 during January to December 2025.

Within this total, private saloon cars increased to 35,367, reflecting growth of 3.2 per cent year-on-year, while registrations of light goods vehicles climbed to 4,959, representing a rise of 6.9 per cent compared with the corresponding period of 2024.

Inflation remained subdued, with the consumer price index increasing by 0.1 per cent during January to December 2025 compared with the previous year.

In external trade, total imports of goods reached €13.55 billion during January to December 2025, recording an increase of 7.7 per cent, while total exports of goods amounted to €5.5 billion, up by 7 per cent year-on-year.

Tourism delivered one of the strongest performances of the year, with arrivals totalling 4,534,073 during January to December 2025, compared with 4,040,200 arrivals in the corresponding period of 2024, representing a rise of 12.2 per cent.