01.09.202507:01:52UTC+00Swiss Retail Sales Growth Eases in July

Retail sales in Switzerland observed a 0.7% increase year-on-year in July 2025, marking a considerable slowdown from the revised 3.9% rise recorded in June, and falling short of forecasts which anticipated a more modest decrease to 3.6%. The slowdown was primarily attributed to reduced growth in non-food products, which grew by 2.8% compared to 5.5% in June. Significant declines were noted in cultural and recreational goods, which saw growth decrease to 2.9% from 7.2%, as well as in online and mail-order sales, which dropped to 2.2% from 8.3%. Conversely, sales categorized under 'other goods' turned negative, registering a -0.7% change from the previous 4.3% gain. However, there were positive developments in household equipment and furniture sales, which improved to 6.5% up from 0.1%, and information and communication equipment continued to show strong double-digit growth, climbing to 23% from 18.7%. Meanwhile, sales of food, beverages, and tobacco declined by 0.8% following a 3% increase the prior month. Seasonally adjusted, the retail trade fell by 0.5% month-on-month in July, effectively reversing the revised 1.9% growth seen in June. Excluding fuel, sales rose by 1% year-on-year, a decrease from the 4.2% rise seen in June.