Tuesday, 16 June 2026
Consumer spending in Poland increased in April 2026, although the overall growth masked significant differences between retail channels, according to data from the Retail Institute. The analysis covers more than 500 million monthly transactions across over 2,050 retail properties, shopping streets and e-commerce platforms in 320 cities, representing approximately 40 percent of all transactions conducted in Poland.
Total consumer spending across all channels rose by 4.7 percent year-on-year in April. The number of transactions increased by 1.7 percent, while the number of shoppers grew by 2.3 percent.
E-commerce remained the fastest-growing retail channel in terms of customer activity. Although total online spending declined by 1.6 percent compared with April 2025, the number of online shoppers increased by 18.6 percent and transaction volumes rose by 16.8 percent. At the same time, the average online transaction value fell by 15.8 percent, suggesting that consumers are increasingly using digital channels for everyday purchases rather than primarily for larger, planned transactions.
Physical retail formats experienced mixed results. Retail parks recorded a 1.4 percent decline in spending and a 1.1 percent decrease in the number of shoppers. Shopping centres saw spending fall by 3.4 percent, while footfall declined by 3.2 percent. However, both formats reported increases in average transaction values, rising by 1.1 percent in retail parks and 2.9 percent in shopping centres. Spending per customer also increased, indicating that while fewer consumers visited these destinations, those who did spent more.
High streets were the only physical retail channel to post clear growth. Spending increased by 2.7 percent year-on-year, while the number of shoppers rose by 1 percent. According to Retail Institute, the results suggest that convenience and proximity continue to play an important role in consumer purchasing decisions.
Anna Szmeja, President of Retail Institute, said the data point to a market increasingly characterised by customer segmentation rather than broad-based growth.
“Shopping centres are losing part of their mass-market traffic but are retaining customers with greater purchasing power and a stronger intention to buy,” she said. “For property owners and managers, this suggests that future success may depend less on rebuilding visitor numbers and more on developing offers tailored to smaller but higher-value customer groups.”
Calendar Effects Influenced April Performance
Retail Institute noted that year-on-year comparisons were affected by calendar and weather-related factors.
Easter fell 15 days earlier in 2026 than in 2025, shifting much of the seasonal shopping activity into March. In addition, April 2025 was one of the warmest Aprils ever recorded in Poland, while April 2026 reflected more typical weather conditions. Both factors likely influenced the year-on-year comparisons and may have exaggerated some of the apparent declines in individual categories.
Fashion Spending Shifts Further Online
The fashion sector remained under pressure in physical retail locations. Overall spending on clothing and footwear declined by 4.7 percent year-on-year, while the number of shoppers fell by 6.3 percent and transaction volumes by 7.6 percent.
Shopping centres recorded a 9.3 percent decline in fashion spending, while retail parks saw an even larger drop of 11.5 percent.
E-commerce was the exception. Online spending on fashion increased by 16.4 percent, accompanied by a 20.8 percent rise in the number of shoppers. Despite declining footfall, average transaction values in shopping centres rose by 2.8 percent, indicating that customers visiting physical stores were making fewer but larger purchases.
Online Grocery Sales Continue Rapid Expansion
The grocery sector presented a more complex picture. Overall spending was broadly stable, declining by just 0.6 percent year-on-year, while the number of shoppers increased by 1 percent.
Beneath these headline figures, however, significant channel shifts are taking place. Online grocery spending surged by 68.4 percent year-on-year, while the number of online grocery shoppers increased by 54.9 percent. Although partly influenced by a relatively low base, the figures suggest that online grocery shopping is gaining broader consumer acceptance.
At the same time, spending on grocery purchases in retail parks declined by 2.4 percent, while shopping centres recorded a 3.1 percent decrease.
Unlike many other categories, average transaction values in online grocery shopping increased by 23.2 percent, indicating that consumers continue to use digital grocery channels primarily for larger, planned purchases rather than impulse buying.
Retail Institute concluded that retailers and property owners should increasingly evaluate their performance against the broader local consumer spending market rather than solely against competing retail formats. Understanding whether spending declines result from category weakness or shifts between sales channels will become increasingly important for leasing, investment and marketing decisions.
