Retail Blues in Macedonia: A July Reversal

The Spike and the Plunge

Well, folks, it seems Macedonia isn’t cruising on that retail high anymore. Retail sales took a nosedive, dropping 2.3% year-on-year in July 2025. This put the brakes on a two-month surge that had everyone talking. Who saw that coming after an impressive 13% jump in June? That was, by the way, the biggest boost since August 2021.

What Went Wrong?

The downturn’s got everyone scratching their heads. Across the board, demand weakened in most major categories. We’re talking food, beverages, and tobacco. That trio saw a tiny dip of 0.4% after sky-high growth of 22.5% in June. Talk about a reality check.

Non-Food’s Not-So-Great Month

Non-food products? Not faring any better. Those sales did a 180, plunging 6.6% after an upbeat 5.2% rise previously. It seems shoppers have put their wallets back in their pockets.

Fueling the Slowdown

Let’s chat about automotive fuel. It inching up just 2.2% is a head-scratcher. That slowdown is stark compared to an 8.3% rise the month before. The pumps just aren’t buzzing like they used to.

A Broader Perspective

When you strip out fuel from the picture, things look even grimmer. Retail trade fell by 3.4% in July, a serious dip from June’s sprightly 13.9% rise. Ouch.

The Bigger Picture

So, what’s next? Everyone from small shop owners to big chains is waiting to see if this dip is a blip or the start of something more worrying. Stay tuned.

For more details, catch the full story on Balkan Investigative Reporting Network.

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