Czech Retail Sales Grow for the 32nd Consecutive Month: Online Sales Rise 12.4%

Czech retail sales rose by 4.8% in real terms in July compared with the same month a year earlier. The Czech Statistical Office (ČSÚ) reported this on September 4. Compared with June, sales rose by 0.6%. This marked the 32nd consecutive month of year-over-year growth.

Online retail was the key driver. Internet and mail-order retailers increased their sales by 12.4%. Sales of non-food items grew by 6.6%, fuel sales by 4.0%, and food sales by 2.7%.

“Adjusted for price effects, retail sales grew in July for the 32nd consecutive month on a year-over-year basis. Sales increased for non-food items, fuel, and food. Online sales contributed the most to this growth,” says Jana Gotvaldová, head of the Department of Trade, Transportation, and Services Statistics at the ČSÚ.

Pharmacies and clothing stores drive the increase

Among specialty stores, pharmacies and medical supply stores saw a 7.8% increase. Clothing and shoe stores increased their sales by 8.8%. Non-specialized stores focusing on food—that is, supermarkets and discount stores—grew by 2.7%. Only one segment saw a decline: stores selling household goods.

The automotive sector lagged behind. Sales and repairs of motor vehicles rose by 0.5%, compared with a 0.1% increase in June. Vehicle sales, including replacement parts, grew by 0.7%, while the repair business stagnated.

Falling food prices are bolstering purchasing power

Prices account for part of the growth. According to the ČSÚ’s flash estimate from September 4, consumer prices rose by 1.9% year-over-year in August. In July, the rate had been 1.7%. Food and non-alcoholic beverages became 4.3% cheaper, while unprocessed food became 4.5% cheaper.

Services became more expensive, costing 4.5% more than a year ago. Energy, including fuels, rose by 2.3%. Goods as a whole were 0.2% higher than the previous year’s figure. The ČSÚ will publish the final price data on September 10.

For retail chains, this means the increase comes from volume, not price. Those selling food are moving more merchandise but earning less per unit. Those selling clothing or pharmaceuticals are profiting from both.

German exporters are thus entering a market that is growing in volume. The Czech Republic sources German consumer goods via short supply chains, with delivery times of just one day. E-commerce is growing at 12.4%, more than twice as fast as the overall market. Those who supply branded goods to the Czech Republic should tailor their packaging, returns logistics, and product range to parcel shipping rather than pallet shipping. Those with household goods in their product lineup, on the other hand, are facing the only segment that is shrinking.

Sources: Český statistický úřad, Rychlá informace “Retail – July 2026” and “Preliminary Estimate of the Consumer Price Index – August 2026,” both September 4, 2026 (CS).

SK, Frankfurt