Continued growth of retail trade in Albania, Q2 2025

Retail trade in Albania continues to show signs of stability and growth in economic activity during the second quarter of 2025. According to INSTAT data, the sales volume index reached 117.1, marking a 6.2% annual increase compared to the second quarter of 2024. This growth reflects strong performance in the consumer sector and demand in the domestic market.

Quarterly growth and seasonal impact
When looking at quarterly comparisons, the seasonally adjusted sales volume index increased by 1.2% compared to the previous quarter. This growth level indicates that the market maintains a moderate but steady pace of activity, despite seasonal factors that typically affect retail sales.

Performance of main trade groups
Analysis by different trade branches shows noticeable variations.

Retail trade excluding hydrocarbons shows that sales volume increased by 4.9% compared to the same quarter in 2024. This group includes food, beverages, and tobacco, as well as non-food items, reflecting growth in overall consumption for basic and specialized products.

Retail trade of hydrocarbons, meanwhile, recorded stronger growth at 10.1%, becoming a key driver of overall retail growth. The high performance of this group is linked to rising hydrocarbon prices and energy consumption by various sectors.

Looking at the quarterly impact, seasonally adjusted retail trade of hydrocarbons increased by 1.9%, while retail trade excluding hydrocarbons grew by 1.1%. This shows that hydrocarbon growth is not only an annual phenomenon but also demonstrates a short-term positive trend.

Contribution of branches to annual growth
In the annual change of 6.2%, the contribution of main branches was as follows:

• Non-food items: +2.2 percentage points
• Food, beverages, and tobacco: +1.5 percentage points
• Hydrocarbons: +2.5 percentage points

This indicates that despite strong hydrocarbon growth, non-food items remain a key component of retail trade, while the food and beverage group contributes steadily but at lower rates.

Outlook and future indicators
Retail trade appears to maintain a steady growth pace, supported by demand for hydrocarbons and non-food items. The food and beverage sector, although growing at more modest rates, remains stable and contributes to market stability. If this trend continues, retail trade is expected to keep growing in upcoming quarters, reflecting an economy where consumers continue to support economic activity.

INSTAT data show that retail trade in Albania is experiencing steady growth, primarily driven by hydrocarbons and non-food items. Quarterly volume growth and the continued contribution of key groups suggest that the domestic market is consolidating consumption activity, creating a positive medium-term outlook for the sector.

For more information and detailed tables, visit the INSTAT page, Retail Trade.