The value of retail sales in Italy rose 0.3% month-on-month in August 2026, following a 0.4% decline in July and beating market expectations for a 0.1% decrease. Food sales rebounded 0.8%, compared with a 0.4% decline in July, while non-food sales were unchanged after falling 0.4% previously. On an annual basis, retail sales grew 0.5%, the smallest increase since a decline in March 2025, slowing from an upwardly revised 1% rise in July. The slowdown reflected weaker non-food sales, which increased 0.2% compared with 1.2% in July, offsetting a pickup in food sales, which rose 0.9% after increasing 0.4% previously. Among non-food products, the largest increase was seen in IT, telecommunications, and telephone equipment (6.7%), which was offset by a drop in footwear, leather goods, and travel goods (-4.1%). By distribution channel, retail sales went up at large retail outlets (1.1%) and in online commerce (5.4%).