Czech Retail Sales Grow by 4.3%: Online Retailers See a 15.0% Increase

In August, the Czech retail sector posted a 4.3% increase in sales in real terms compared with a year earlier. The Czech Statistical Office (ČSÚ) reported this on October 8. Compared to July, sales rose by 0.2%. The August figures are preliminary; the final figures will be released in March 2027.

Online retailers and fashion stores are driving sales

Internet and mail-order sales increased by 15.0%, making them the largest contributor to growth. Non-specialized stores focusing on food saw a 3.1% increase. Among specialty stores, clothing and footwear led the way with a 10.0% increase. All product categories in the non-food retail sector grew year-over-year.

Jana Gotvaldová heads the Department of Trade, Transportation, and Services Statistics at the ČSÚ. She says: “We traditionally recorded the highest growth among online retailers.”

Excluding motor vehicles, sales also rose by 0.2% compared to July. The ČSÚ additionally adjusts the month-over-month comparison for seasonal effects. The year-over-year comparison, however, is adjusted only for working days. Both figures point in the same direction: Consumer spending in the Czech Republic continues to drive growth.

Fuel and auto sales decline

Non-food sales grew by 7.4% year-over-year and 0.7% month-over-month in August. Food sales rose by 3.0% and 0.3%, respectively. For fuels, the ČSÚ reported a decline of 3.2% year-over-year and 2.1% month-over-month.

The automotive sector is also weakening. Vehicle sales and repairs fell by 2.2% year-over-year. Repairs dropped by 2.5%, while sales—including spare parts—fell by 2.1%. Compared to July, sales declined by 0.3%.

The agency calculates figures in constant prices and adjusts them for the number of working days. It has revised the July data. The next release is scheduled for November 5, 2026.

What This Means for German Exporters

Consumer spending is concentrated on fashion, shoes, and online retail. Manufacturers of apparel, household goods, and consumer electronics are finding a growing market in the Czech Republic. Those selling there should keep an eye on platforms such as Alza or Notino. Automotive suppliers and auto parts dealers, on the other hand, are experiencing weaker domestic demand. Fuel sales remain in the red. Those negotiating supply contracts with Czech retail chains can rely on stable volumes in the food sector: sales there are growing by 3.0% per year.

Source: Český statistický úřad (ČSÚ), Quick Facts “Retail – August 2026,” October 8, 2026 (CS)

SK, Frankfurt