Italian Retail Sales Experience Decline in March: Istat Reports

Rome: Istat reported a 0.5% decline in Italy’s seasonally adjusted retail sales index for March compared to February, both in value and volume terms. The national statistics agency highlighted a decrease in sales for both food goods, which fell by 0.5% in value and 0.9% in volume, and non-food items, which saw a reduction of 0.3% in value and 0.4% in volume.

According to Ansa News Agency, the retail sales figures for March 2024 showed a more significant year-on-year decline, with a 2.8% drop in value and a 4.2% decrease in volume. Istat noted that all distribution channels experienced declines in March 2025, with large-scale distribution contracting by 2.6%, small-scale distribution falling by 3.1%, and non-store retail sales declining by 4.7%.

Online sales also witnessed a downturn, decreasing by 1.3% compared to March 2024. This marks the third consecutive month of decline for online sales, indicating a challenging period for the retail sector in Italy.