Cyprus records highest retail trade growth in the EU for May 2026

According to data released by Eurostat on Monday, Cyprus recorded the highest monthly and annual increase in the volume of retail trade among EU member states in May 2026. The seasonally adjusted retail trade volume in Cyprus rose by 3.7% in May 2026 compared to April. On an annual basis, comparing May 2026 to May 2025, retail trade grew by 8.4%. Other top performers in annual growth included Bulgaria at 7.9% and Luxembourg at 7.8%, while Romania, Estonia, and Belgium experienced declines. In monthly terms, Luxembourg followed Cyprus with a 3.6% increase, and Poland saw a 2.4% rise. In contrast, Estonia, Croatia, Belgium, and Lithuania recorded the largest monthly declines in retail trade. Overall, the European Union saw a monthly retail trade increase of 0.5%, while the euro area grew by 0.2%. These figures follow a period of fluctuating retail data in Cyprus during the first quarter of 2026.