FX.co ★ Norway Retail Sales Growth Hits Near 2-Year High

Retail sales in Norway rose 1.8% month over month in June 2026, rebounding from an upwardly revised 2.4% decline in May, which had been the steepest drop since June 2024. This marked the strongest monthly increase in retail trade since May 2024.

The overall improvement was supported by a recovery in several key segments: sales at non-specialized stores increased by 1.6% (after a 2.1% fall in May); food, beverages, and tobacco stores advanced 1.8% (vs -1.6%); ICT equipment stores edged up 0.1% (vs -5.3%); other household equipment stores rose 1.7% (vs -1.3%); and cultural and recreational goods stores climbed 3.8% (vs -6.9%). In addition, sales via non-store retailing accelerated markedly, rising 1.9% compared with a 0.1% gain in May.

Meanwhile, declines moderated for automotive fuel sales (-3.0% vs -3.4% in May) and for other goods (-0.7% vs -2.6%). On a year-on-year basis, retail sales slipped 0.3% in June, following a downwardly revised 2.3% contraction in May.