2026.03.3006:00:00UTC+00Sweden’s Retail Sales Slide Deepens in February, Signaling Softer Consumer Demand

Swedish retail activity weakened further in February 2026, with sales falling 0.6% month-over-month, according to data updated on 30 March 2026. The decline marks a sharper contraction than in January 2026, when retail sales slipped 0.1% compared with the previous month.

On a month-over-month basis, the latest reading indicates that consumer spending momentum is losing pace. While January’s modest dip suggested a tentative softening in demand, the deeper slide in February points to growing pressure on retailers as households appear to curb expenditure compared with the start of the year.

The data are based on sequential monthly comparisons: the current figure reflects the change in February 2026 versus January 2026, while the previous figure captured the change in January 2026 relative to December 2025. Together, the two consecutive declines highlight a deteriorating short-term trend for Sweden’s retail sector.