According to the latest data from the Croatian Bureau of Statistics (DZS), retail trade turnover in Croatia continues to grow in September 2025, both on a monthly and annual basis.

Although inflation and rising prices continue to burden household budgets, the data show that citizens are still spending, making this the thirtieth consecutive month in which we have recorded consumption growth compared to the same month of the previous year.

Growth in sales of both food and non-food products

Compared with August 2025, total retail trade turnover increased by 1.3 percent, after seasonal and calendar adjustments. In other words, even when seasonal fluctuations such as tourist spending are excluded, turnover in stores is still moving upward.

Interestingly, growth was recorded in both food and non-food products. Sales of food, beverages, and basic necessities increased by 1.3 percent, while sales of non-food products, such as clothing, cosmetics, technical goods, and similar items, jumped by as much as 3.5 percent. This shows that consumers, despite economic uncertainty, are still spending on products that are not essential for everyday life.

Comparison with last year: Consumption still strong

If September 2025 is compared with the same month last year, retail trade turnover increased by 3.1 percent. At the same time, turnover from the sale of food, beverages, and tobacco products was higher by 1.9 percent, while non-food products grew significantly faster, by as much as 5 percent.

In the first nine months of 2025, total store sales, adjusted for the calendar, were 3.6 percent higher compared with the same period in 2024. This means that the trend of consumption growth did not stop even in months when many European countries recorded a slowdown in economic activity.

Food stores and pharmacies record the highest growth

The largest contribution to total turnover growth came from non-specialized stores predominantly selling food, beverages, and tobacco products. Their turnover in September increased by 7.9 percent compared with last year, which had the greatest impact on the overall consumption index.

Pharmacies and stores selling medical, orthopedic, and cosmetic products also recorded strong growth, as much as 12.2 percent more than last year. They are followed by other non-specialized stores with non-food products, which achieved growth of 11.7 percent. When everything is added up, total nominal retail trade turnover in September was as much as 6.9 percent higher than in the same month of 2024.

What do these data mean and why are they important?

Simply put, DZS measures how much citizens spend in stores, and these data serve as a kind of “thermometer” of consumption and economic activity. When retail trade turnover grows, it usually means that consumers have somewhat more confidence in the economy and are more willing to spend. Conversely, a decline in turnover often indicates caution, lower purchasing power, or fear of a crisis.

Growth lasting for 30 consecutive months can be interpreted as a sign of stability in domestic consumption, although the impact of higher prices, which artificially “inflate” the value of turnover, should not be overlooked. Still, the fact that real turnover, that is, adjusted for the impact of inflation, continues to grow shows that citizens are still not retreating in the face of the challenges of inflation and the high cost of living.