Retail activity in Cyprus showed robust growth this past November, with the volume of goods sold significantly outperforming the actual monetary value of those transactions. According to the Statistical Service of Cyprus (Cystat), as reported by Stockwatch.com.cy, the Turnover Value Index for retail trade rose by 4.6% year-on-year, while the Turnover Volume Index—which measures the actual quantity of goods—jumped by a more substantial 7.6%.
This divergence suggests that while Cypriots are buying more items, they are benefiting from lower prices or significant discounts, likely influenced by the -0.5% inflation rate recorded during the same period.
Food and Beverage: Specialised Stores Lead the Way
The “edible” category remained a powerhouse for the retail sector. While supermarkets (non-specialized stores) saw a healthy rise, it was the specialized food, drink, and tobacco shops that experienced an extraordinary surge in activity.
| Retail Category | Value Increase (Nov ’25) | Volume Increase (Nov ’25) |
| Supermarkets | +5.3% | +8.0% |
| Specialized Food/Drink Stores | +17.4% | +22.5% |
The year-to-date performance for these specialized stores is equally impressive, with an annual volume growth of 13.8% over the first eleven months of 2025.
Fashion, Health, and Lifestyle
The “Black Friday” effect and early holiday shopping likely contributed to the strong performance in the clothing and footwear sector. Consumers showed a high appetite for fashion, with the volume of sales rising much faster than the value.
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Clothing & Footwear: Value climbed by 4.8%, but the volume of items sold spiked by 14.1%.
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Health & Beauty: Pharmacies and cosmetic retailers saw a 4.7% rise in value and a 3.0% increase in volume.
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Long-term Trend: For the January–November window, clothing and footwear volume has grown by 14.3%, marking it as one of the most resilient sectors of the year.
The Fuel Exception: A Continued Decline
Automotive fuel was the primary outlier in an otherwise positive month. Reflecting global price fluctuations and local consumption shifts, both the value and the volume of fuel sales decreased in November 2025 compared to the previous year.
Key Stat: Fuel turnover value dropped by 5.8%, while the volume of fuel purchased fell by 3.6%.
Despite this monthly dip, the cumulative volume for the year remains slightly positive, showing a 2.8% increase for the January–November period.
Source: Stockwatch.com.cy