Latvia Retail Sales Growth Jumps in August

Retail sales in Latvia jumped 4.3% year-on-year in August 2025, accelerating from a downwardly revised 1.6% increase in July and marking the sharpest rise since March 2022. The upturn was driven by strong growth in household equipment (15.2% vs 1.4% in July), electrical household appliances (22.8% vs 12.8%), clothing and footwear (12.9% vs -4%), hardware, paints and glass (14% vs -1.5%), and watches and jewellery (14.8% vs -1.9%). Additional gains were recorded in textiles and furniture (6% vs 8.7%), cultural and recreational goods (16.1% vs 33.2%), and books and stationery (9.9% vs 12.9%). In contrast, sales fell for food, beverages and tobacco (-0.9% vs -1.5%), cosmetics (-2.5% vs 9.7%), and second-hand goods (-11.5% vs -14.5%). On a monthly basis, retail trade grew 1%, easing from a 1.3% gain in the prior month.