Türkiye retail sales up 13.7% in May on strong non-food demand
People are seen at the famous Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Türkiye, April 30, 2026. (AA Photo)


Retail sales growth in Türkiye accelerated in May after slowing in April, official data showed on Monday.

Retail sales volume rose 13.7% year-over-year in May, supported by strong growth in non-food purchases, the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) said.

The volume had jumped 11.7% in April, its weakest pace since March 2025.

Growth in sales of non-food products, excluding fuel, accelerated to 17.5% from 14.8%, the data showed.

Food sales growth picked up to 9.1% from 7.8%. Sales of automotive fuel increased 3.2% from a year earlier.

Sales of computers, books and telecommunications equipment recorded the strongest increase, climbing 23.5%, followed by a 17.6% rise in textiles, clothing and footwear.

Online retail sales rose 16.2% year-over-year, although that was slower than April's 18.8% increase.

On a monthly basis, retail sales increased 2.4% in May, rebounding from a 1.6% decline in April.

Sales of computers, books and telecommunications equipment rose 3.7%, while textiles, clothing and footwear increased 2.9%.

Despite the strength in retail activity, overall trade sales volume declined 1.4% annually, mainly due to a 7.8% fall in wholesale trade.

Total trade sales increased 0.7% month-over-month, while wholesale trade sales fell 0.6%.