France Retail Sales

Data Macro

Source: Banque de France
Source Link: https://www.banque-france.fr/
Frequency: Monthly
Next Release(s): March 20th, 2026 2:45 AM

Latest Updates

In January, retail sales volume rose by 1.2% (seasonally and calendar adjusted data), following a 1.6% decline in December. The increase recorded in January reflects a rebound in both food sales (+1.2%, after -0.7% in December) and manufactured goods (+1.3%, after -2.3% in December).
- Within manufactured goods, sales of footwear (+7.7% in January) and sports equipment (+6.6%) rebounded sharply after their decline in the previous month (-3.4% and -5.7%, respectively). Conversely, sales of bicycles and motorcycles fell sharply (-10.6% after +1.7%), as did sales of press and stationery (-3.3%, after -0.9% in December), though to a lesser extent.
- After declining in December, sales increased across all distribution channels: small retail stores (+0.3% after -0.7%), department stores (+1.0% after -3.1%), hypermarkets (+4.9% after -3.7%) and supermarkets (+1.9% after -0.9%).
- Over the last three months compared with the previous three-month period, retail sales volume increased by 0.9%, driven by manufactured goods (+1.1%), while food sales rose more moderately (+0.6%).
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In December, turnover in retail trade fell by 1.8% on the previous month (data adjusted for seasonal and working-day variations), following a 1.6% increase in November. This change was due to both food sales, which declined by 0.9% in December after rising by 1.0% in November), and manufactured goods, which dropped by 2.5% after several months of growth (including a 2.0% increase in November).
- As regards manufactured goods, new car sales decreased by 6.6% after a strong 13% rebound in November. The most significant declines were recorded in watches and jewelry, which dropped by 8.9% after a 3.5% increase and in household appliances, which fell by 7.0% after sliding by 9.7%. Conversely, a recovery was recorded in sales of bicycles and motorcycles, which climbed by 2.1% after declining by 2.8% and sales of pharmaceuticals, which were up by 0.4% after dipping by 0.7%.
- Sales declined across all distribution channels: sales of small retailers dipped by 0.8% after decreasing by 0.7%, department store sales were down by 3.6% after a 4.8% increase, hypermarket sales decreased by 1.6% after rising by 1.1%, and supermarket sales fell by 0.8% after a 1.2% rise.
- Over the quarter as a whole, retail sales grew by 0.6% compared with the previous three months, driven by a 1% increase in sales of manufactured goods, while food sales remained unchanged (0% growth).
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In November, turnover in retail trade rose by 1.5% on the previous month (data adjusted for seasonal and working-day variations), following a slight increase of 0.2% in October. More specifically, sales of manufactured goods continued to grow by 1.9% after rising by 0.6% in October, while food sales rebounded by 0.9% in November after falling by 0.4% in October.
- Manufactured goods continued to show mixed developments. After several months of particularly sluggish sales, new car sales rose sharply by 13.1% after a 0.6% increase, as did sales of household appliances, which rose by 8.2% after a 0.9% decline. In contrast, sales of bicycles and motorcycles declined by 3.2% after rising by 3.0%, as did sales of press and stationery, which fell by 1.7% after rising by 9.2%.
- In terms of distribution channels, sales of small retailers decreased by 0.7% after a 0.6% increase. Conversely, department stores recorded a further increase, up 4.6% after rising 3.6%, while hypermarkets rebounded, up 1.7% after falling 0.5%, as did supermarkets, up 1.3% after dropping by 2.3%.
- Over the quarter as a whole, retail sales grew by 0.5% compared with the previous three months. This reflects the contrasting developments in manufactured goods, which rose by 1.1%, and food products, which fell by 0.3%.
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In October, turnover in retail trade rose slightly month-on-month (+0.3%; data adjusted for seasonal and working-day variations), after declining slightly in September. In particular, manufactured goods sales picked up by 0.8% after falling by 0.4% in September, while food sales declined by 0.4%, after rising by 0.3% in September.
- Manufactured goods continued to show contrasting trends across sub-sectors. Sales were clearly on the rise again for press and stationery (+11.6% after a sharp 5.4% decline in September), books (+4.2% after -2.8%), and games and toys (+4% after -2.4%). Sales declined in automotive equipment (-4.3% in October after +2.0% in September), watches and jewelry (-2.3% after 2.8%) and consumer electronics (-1.6% after +3.3%).
- In terms of distribution channels, supermarket sales fell (-2.4% after +4.0%). Hypermarkets also recorded a slight decline (-0.5% after +0.4%). Conversely, sales at department stores increased (2.8% after -3.7%), as did sales at small retail stores albeit to a lesser extent (+0.6% after +0.7%).
- Three month-on-three month, overall turnover in retail trade fell by 0.3%. This decline affected both manufactured goods sales (-0.1%) and food sales (-0.6%).
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In September, turnover in retail trade declined slightly month-on-month (-0.1%; data adjusted for seasonal and working-day variations), after remaining stable in August. In particular, manufactured goods sales fell by 0.4%, after rising by 0.4% in August, while food sales picked up by 0.3% after declining by 0.4% in August.
- Manufactured goods continued to show contrasting trends across sub-sectors. Sales declined further for press and stationery (-5.2% after -4.6% the previous month) and dropped sharply for new automobiles (-4.0% after +4.3%). They picked up markedly in consumer electronics (+3.3% after -3.3%) and automotive equipment (+2.3% after -0.4%).
- In terms of distribution channels, supermarket sales improved significantly (+4.1% after -1.4%). Hypermarket sales also recorded a slight increase (+0.4% after -0.6%), as did sales at small retail stores (+0.5% after -1.1%). Conversely, sales at department stores slowed significantly (-3.9% after +1.7%).
- Three month-on-three month, overall turnover in retail trade fell by 0.8%. This decline concerned both manufactured goods sales (-0.9%) and food sales (-0.7%).
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France’s retail trade turnover edged up +0.1% MoM in August 2025, after falling -0.4% in July, though sales were still down -0.8% on a 3Mo3M basis.
- Manufactured goods sales rose +0.5% MoM, recovering from -0.1% in July, while food sales declined -0.4% MoM, extending July’s -0.7% drop.
- Within manufactured goods, gains came from new automobiles (+4.7% MoM), sports equipment (+4.5% MoM), and textiles (+3.8% MoM), rebounding from sharp July declines.
- Weakness persisted in press and stationery (-4.0% MoM), consumer electronics (-3.3% MoM), and furniture (-2.9% MoM), reversing July increases.
- By distribution channel, department stores grew +2.0% MoM, while hypermarkets (-0.6% MoM), supermarkets (-0.9% MoM), and small retail stores (-1.0% MoM) all contracted.
- Over the past three months, turnover dropped -0.8%, with manufactured goods down -1.2% and food down -0.4%, reflecting broad-based softness.
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France’s retail trade turnover fell -0.6% MoM in July 2025, following a -0.7% MoM decline in June, with both food and manufactured goods sales contracting.
- Food sales dropped -0.6% MoM after rising +0.6% in June, while manufactured goods also fell -0.6% MoM, showing mixed trends across sub-sectors.
- New car sales plunged -9.9% MoM due to a base effect from high deliveries in July 2024; sports equipment (-4.9%) and DIY (-4.0%) also weakened.
- Gains were seen in optical products (+6.5% MoM), furniture (+4.1%), and stationery (+3.4%), partly offsetting other declines.
- By distribution channel, hypermarkets (-0.5% MoM), supermarkets (-0.4%), and department stores (-0.5%) all fell, while small retailers rose +0.7%.
- Over the past three months, retail turnover declined -0.9%, with both manufactured goods (-0.9%) and food (-0.8%) contributing to the drop.
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France’s retail sales fell -0.7% MoM in June 2025, following a -0.3% MoM decline in May, as weaker manufactured goods more than offset gains in food.
- Food sales rose +0.5% MoM, while manufactured goods dropped -1.7% MoM, led by furniture (-5.4%), clothing (-4.2%), and footwear (-3.8%).
- Auto equipment (+1.5%), household appliances (+1.1%), and new car sales (+1.0%) posted modest gains.
- Hypermarket sales rebounded +1.1% MoM; supermarket sales were flat; department store sales declined -3.1%.
- Sales at small retailers dipped -0.1% MoM.
- Over the three months to June, retail turnover was flat in both food and manufactured goods categories.
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France’s retail sales fell -0.3% MoM in May 2025, following a +0.3% MoM increase in April, with declines in both food and manufactured goods.
- Food sales dropped -0.7% MoM, while manufactured goods slipped -0.1% MoM.
- Notable declines were seen in DIY (-3.4% MoM), books (-3.3%), and auto equipment (-2.1%), while gains came from games & toys (+3.3%), pharmaceuticals (+3.3%), and clothing (+2.0%).
- Hypermarket and supermarket sales fell -2.1% and -1.8% MoM, respectively; department store sales rose +1.0% MoM.
- Small retailer sales declined -0.6% MoM.
- Over the three months to May, retail sales rose 0.4% QoQ, driven by a 0.7% increase in manufactured goods, while food was flat.
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France’s retail sales increased 0.5% MoM in April after no growth in March.
- Food sales were up 0.6% MoM, and manufactured goods sales were up 0.6% MoM.
- The largest gains were in DIY (+4.7% MoM), furniture (+2.8% MoM), and bikes & motorcycles (+2.5% MoM), all segments that declined in March.
- Sales in the last three months (Feb-Apr) were up 0.5% over the previous three month period (Nov-Jan).
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