Norway’s core retail sales decline moderated in March 2026, suggesting that consumer demand may be stabilizing after a sharp pullback earlier in the year. According to the latest data updated on 29 April 2026, core retail sales fell by 0.1% month-over-month in March, an improvement from the 1.1% drop recorded in February 2026.
The figures are based on month-over-month comparisons, where the current reading reflects the change in March relative to February, while the previous figure shows February’s change compared with January. Although core retail activity remained in negative territory, the significantly smaller contraction indicates that the worst of the recent retail downturn might be easing, potentially offering some relief to policymakers and businesses monitoring household spending trends.