Cyprus tops EU retail sales growth while Greek mortgage lending more than doubles in early 2026

Eurostat data show that Cyprus recorded the strongest retail sales growth among EU member states in May 2026, with a seasonally‑adjusted volume increase of 3.7% month‑on‑month and 8.4% year‑on‑year, outpacing the rest of the bloc.

In Greece, new mortgage loan disbursements surged in the first half of 2026, reaching €1.3 billion for the period January‑May, a 105% jump compared with the same period a year earlier. Overall new loan issuance rose to €9.32 billion, driven largely by the housing sector, while interest‑rate cuts and the Recovery and Resilience Fund supported the credit expansion.