Retail sales in the Czech Republic rose by 1.8% year-on-year in December 2025, sharply lower than market forecasts of a 3.5% gain and slowing from a downwardly revised and five-month high of 4.5% increase in the previous month. The latest figure also marked the lowest reading since December 2023, driven by softer sales increase for non-food products (2% vs 6.3% in November). Among the non-food sector, sales declined mainly for information and communication equipment (-1.8% vs -1.5%) and cultural and recreation goods (-1% vs 3%), while it rose at a lesser extent for other goods (2.3% vs 3%). Additionally, activity growth slowed for automotive fuel (3.9% vs 6%) and food, beverages, and tobacco (1% vs 1.1%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail trade fell by 0.1% in December, reversing a 0.8% gain in the preceding period.