Retail sales rise in the US and Greece

Retail markets in the United States and Greece showed resilience through the summer months. In the US, retail sales rose by 1.2% in August, surpassing economist expectations of a 0.8% increase. This recovery follows a revised 0.5% decline in July. Growth was driven by increased vehicle purchases and back-to-school shopping, which boosted sales in general merchandise, clothing, sporting goods, and electronics. Even excluding automobiles and gasoline, core retail sales grew by 1.2%.

In Greece, organized retail saw a 5.2% increase in value during the June-August 2026 quarter compared to the previous year. This growth was primarily driven by a 4.6% increase in sales volumes, while inflation remained low at 0.4%. Tourism-heavy regions led the expansion, with the Islands seeing a 9.2% increase, followed by Thessaloniki (+6.3%) and Crete (+5.8%). Key growth sectors included FMCG, bazaar goods (up 10.6%), and products related to convenience and seasonal needs, such as ready-to-eat items and school supplies.