Retail sales in Croatia increased in February, which is the first time since March last year, and recovery in retail trade is expected to continue over the next months.

The State statistics bureau (DZS) reported on Tuesday that according to calendar adjusted data, retail trade increased in real terms by 4.4% month on month and 3.8% on the year.

That is the first time it increased in the past year after falling for 11 months in a row under the impact of the coronavirus crisis.

Retail trade of food, beverages and tobacco products increased by 0.2% while non-food products (apart from motor fuel and lubricants) decreased by 0.3% on the year.

The strongest growth in retail trade in February was recorded via the internet and post (+22%). On the other hand, the biggest fall in retail trade was registered in motor vehicles and spare parts (-13.1%), analysts at Raiffeisenbank Austria (RBA) said. They expect retail trade to continue growing in the coming months.