Swedish second-hand market turnover falls 9 percent in H1 2026

The Swedish second-hand market saw a turnover of approximately 6.8 billion SEK during the first half of 2026, representing a 9 percent decrease compared to the previous year. According to the Pre Loved indicator report from Svensk Handel, the market experienced a weak start, with sales dropping 15 percent in the first quarter, though the decline slowed to 2 percent in the second quarter.

A recovery was noted during the summer, with July sales reaching approximately 1.7 billion SEK, a 23 percent increase from the same month last year and a 35 percent increase from June.

Performance varied significantly by category. Fashion was the only major category to grow, with sales rising 2 percent to 2.4 billion SEK. Other sectors saw declines: home electronics fell by 19 percent (1.3 billion SEK), home decor and furniture dropped by 25 percent (960 million SEK), and books and magazines decreased by 23 percent (443 million SEK).

Online sales accounted for 69 percent of the total market. While digital sales decreased by 5 percent, physical store sales saw a more significant decline of 16 percent.