Slovakia’s retail turnover continues to decline in May, while wholesale and hospitality sectors grow

Retail turnover in Slovakia fell for the fourth consecutive month in May 2025, declining by 1.8% year-on-year after adjusting for inflation. The drop reflected persistent weakness across several smaller segments of the retail sector, though the overall decline was partly offset by gains in the two largest retail categories, including hypermarkets and supermarkets.

Compared to April, seasonally adjusted retail turnover slipped by 1.3%.

Six out of nine retail segments reported lower turnover in May compared to the same month last year. Among the hardest-hit categories were hobby markets, furniture, and electrical goods stores, where turnover fell by 10.6%. E-commerce and mail-order businesses also saw a 4.6% decline, while specialized stores selling sporting goods, books, and toys registered a steep drop of 23.2%.

Despite these declines, turnover increased by 3.1% in hyper- and supermarkets and by 1.6% in specialized stores selling items such as footwear, textiles, drugstore goods, and pharmaceuticals.

Over the first five months of 2025, total retail turnover in Slovakia was down 1.3% year-on-year, with six of nine retail segments showing declines.

In contrast to retail, other areas of internal trade posted stronger results in May. Turnover rose in the sale and repair of motor vehicles by 2.1% year-on-year and grew significantly in wholesale, which recorded an 11.4% increase. The accommodation sector saw a 2.1% rise, while turnover in food and beverage service activities increased by 3.4%.

On a month-on-month basis, accommodation turnover grew by 11.5% in May after seasonal adjustment. Food and beverage services also recorded a smaller monthly increase of 2%. However, turnover declined by 1% in the sale and repair of motor vehicles and by 0.8% in wholesale.

For the first five months of 2025, turnover rose by 0.5% in the sale and repair of motor vehicles, by 9% in wholesale, by 1.2% in accommodation, and by 1.9% in food and beverage service activities.

Data for this report were provided by the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic, based on monthly surveys. Retail and most service figures reflect constant prices, while wholesale figures are presented in current prices.