Thursday, 6 August 2026
Consumer spending in the Czech Republic remained stronger than a year earlier in June, although retail activity eased slightly compared with the previous month, according to the latest figures released by the Czech Statistical Office (CZSO).
Retail turnover, excluding motor vehicle sales and repairs, increased by 3.6% year-on-year in real terms, extending the recovery in household consumption. Compared with May, however, sales edged down by 0.1%, suggesting that consumer demand remained stable but lost some momentum at the end of the second quarter.
The strongest annual growth came from non-food retailers, where sales rose 5.4%. Food retailers also reported higher turnover, with sales increasing 2.1%, while spending on automotive fuel recorded a more modest 0.3% increase.
E-commerce continued to outperform traditional retail channels. Internet and mail-order retailers recorded 12.6% annual growth, making online shopping the largest contributor to the overall increase in retail sales. The figures underline the continued shift in consumer purchasing habits towards digital platforms, a trend that has strengthened in recent years despite the return of shoppers to physical stores.
Several retail segments also recorded solid performances. Pharmacies and retailers specialising in medical and orthopaedic products benefited from sustained consumer demand, while supermarkets and other food-led retailers continued to report moderate growth. By contrast, specialist stores selling information and communication equipment and retailers focused on cultural and recreational goods experienced a slight decline in sales compared with the same month last year.
The automotive sector also delivered a positive annual result, although activity softened from the previous month. Sales and repair of motor vehicles increased 2.5% year-on-year, supported primarily by new vehicle sales, while monthly turnover declined 0.6%.
The latest data suggest that Czech households continue to increase spending despite ongoing economic uncertainty. Lower inflation compared with previous years and gradual improvements in real household incomes have helped support consumer confidence, although monthly fluctuations indicate that spending remains measured rather than accelerating rapidly.
The June figures reinforce the importance of online retailing as a driver of consumer demand and highlight the continued resilience of essential retail categories, while discretionary spending remains more uneven across different segments of the market.
