Türkiye's retail sector maintained strong annual growth in May 2026, even as overall trade sales volume posted a year-on-year decline, the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) said in a statement on Monday.

TurkStat said the trade sales volume index (2021=100) fell by 1.4% in May compared with the same month last year.

The decline was driven primarily by weaker wholesale activity, while retail sales continued to record robust growth.

According to the data, the volume of wholesale and retail trade and the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles declined by 1.7% on an annual basis.

Wholesale trade sales volume fell by 7.8% compared with May 2025, reflecting slower activity in the wholesale segment.

In contrast, the retail trade sales volume index increased by 13.7% year-on-year, highlighting continued strength in consumer spending despite broader weakness in overall trade.

On a monthly basis, the trade sales volume index rose by 0.7% in May compared with April.

The volume of wholesale and retail trade and the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles increased by 2.9% during the month.

Wholesale trade sales volume, however, slipped by 0.6% from the previous month.

Retail sales continued their upward trend, rising by 2.4% on a monthly basis, indicating sustained momentum in domestic consumption.

The latest figures suggest that while wholesale trade remained under pressure, Türkiye's retail sector continued to support overall economic activity through resilient consumer demand. (ILKHA)