Food and fuel drove retail growth in September 2026, non-food sales fell

The State Statistical Office today published retail turnover indices for September 2026 that show consumers in North Macedonia spent markedly more on food and motor fuels while purchases of non-food goods declined.

According to the published figures, turnover for automotive fuels recorded a nominal increase of 38.7 percent compared with September last year, while the real growth was 12 percent.

Uneven performance across retail segments

Trade in food, beverages and tobacco also rose substantially: nominal turnover increased by 24.1 percent and real turnover by 19.4 percent versus the same month in 2025. By contrast, retail trade in non-food products (excluding fuels) showed the largest drop, with nominal turnover down 13.9 percent and real turnover down 9.2 percent year-on-year.

Looking at aggregate retail activity, total retail trade excluding fuel recorded a nominal rise of 3.9 percent and a real increase of 4.7 percent. When excluding motor vehicles and motorcycles, total nominal retail turnover rose by 10.6 percent while real growth was 5.3 percent.

The data underline that the recovery in retail is not uniform: double-digit gains in fuels and food contrast with a notable contraction in the non-food segment, signaling shifting household spending patterns in September 2026.

Photo: Arhiva