Informations Rapides ·
21 May 2026 · n° 119
In March 2026, sales volume in trade increased (+0.9%) Sales volume in wholesale and retail trade - March 2026
In March 2026, the volume of sales in trade increased by 0.9% over a month, after a virtual stability in February (-0.1%).
In March 2026, the volume of sales in trade increased by 0.9% over a month, after a virtual stability in February (-0.1%).
In March 2026, sales volume grew in the three main trade sectors
In March 2026*, the volume of sales bounced back in wholesale trade except that of motor vehicles and motorcycles (+1.1% after -0.3%). This rebound was driven in particular by the sharp acceleration in sales in “other specialised wholesale (fuels, wood, chemicals, etc.)” (+4.5% after +0.3%) notably due to the marked increase in the volume of sales in the wholesale trade of fuels and related products (+9.9% after +0.3%), and despite the sharp rise in prices in this sector linked to the conflict in the Middle East.
The volume of sales also picked up in retail trade except that of motor vehicles and motorcycles (+0.7% after -1.0%): it rebounded sharply in specialised stores (+1.2% after -2.0%), while it remained stable both in non-specialised stores and in trade not in stores. Within specialised stores, the volume of sales recovered notably in “other goods in specialised stores (pharmacies, clothing shops, shoe shops, etc.)” (+2.0% after -2.4%) as well as in “other household equipment (sales of furniture, appliances, hardware, etc.)” (+2.0% after -4.6%). Conversely, the volume of automotive fuel sales declined at the same pace as in the previous month (-1.0%).
Lastly, the volume of sales rose again in the trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, but more moderately (+0.3% after +2.7%). This sharp slowdown is explained by stable sales of motor vehicles (after +4.1% in February).
The volume of sales of the first quarter of 2026 went up by 2.6% over a year
The volume of sales of the first quarter of 2026 in overall trade was up by 2.6% compared to the same period a year earlier. It rose at almost the same pace in wholesale trade (+2.7%), in the retail trade (+2.3%) as well as in the trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (+2.5%).
Within the retail trade, sales increased year on year in specialised stores (+1.7%), in non-specialised stores (+2.1%), as well as in retail trade not in stores (+6.9%).
tableauChanges in sales volumes in trade
| Motor vehicles and motorcycles - 45 | Wholesale - 46 | Retail trade - 47 | Wholesale and retail trade - G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03 | 106.59 | 100.93 | 107.71 | 103.69 |
| 2026-02 | 106.24 | 99.83 | 107.0 | 102.8 |
| 2026-01 | 103.48 | 100.12 | 108.13 | 102.91 |
| 2025-12 | 105.2 | 100.25 | 107.54 | 103.05 |
| 2025-11 | 104.86 | 98.55 | 107.7 | 102.08 |
| 2025-10 | 104.7 | 99.1 | 107.5 | 102.32 |
| 2025-09 | 105.01 | 99.38 | 106.86 | 102.34 |
| 2025-08 | 105.41 | 99.37 | 106.86 | 102.38 |
| 2025-07 | 103.79 | 98.14 | 106.26 | 101.28 |
| 2025-06 | 103.03 | 99.44 | 106.07 | 101.86 |
| 2025-05 | 102.32 | 98.52 | 106.04 | 101.23 |
| 2025-04 | 103.65 | 99.09 | 105.95 | 101.72 |
| 2025-03 | 102.84 | 97.7 | 105.47 | 100.67 |
| 2025-02 | 102.86 | 97.72 | 105.2 | 100.6 |
| 2025-01 | 102.75 | 97.51 | 104.87 | 100.38 |
| 2024-12 | 104.12 | 97.43 | 104.06 | 100.29 |
| 2024-11 | 104.27 | 97.51 | 104.25 | 100.41 |
| 2024-10 | 104.78 | 96.64 | 103.97 | 99.91 |
| 2024-09 | 102.9 | 96.92 | 104.55 | 99.97 |
| 2024-08 | 104.15 | 98.05 | 105.34 | 101.02 |
| 2024-07 | 103.34 | 97.49 | 102.77 | 99.84 |
| 2024-06 | 103.88 | 97.51 | 102.01 | 99.7 |
| 2024-05 | 105.26 | 98.89 | 102.6 | 100.85 |
| 2024-04 | 106.3 | 100.23 | 102.51 | 101.73 |
| 2024-03 | 104.84 | 98.86 | 102.56 | 100.76 |
| 2024-02 | 108.45 | 101.45 | 103.42 | 103.0 |
| 2024-01 | 106.33 | 99.15 | 102.25 | 101.05 |
| 2023-12 | 111.39 | 99.81 | 102.02 | 102.07 |
| 2023-11 | 108.33 | 97.98 | 102.04 | 100.6 |
| 2023-10 | 108.99 | 99.23 | 100.82 | 101.06 |
| 2023-09 | 110.15 | 99.33 | 100.84 | 101.28 |
| 2023-08 | 109.36 | 100.17 | 99.95 | 101.39 |
| 2023-07 | 109.29 | 100.03 | 102.24 | 101.96 |
| 2023-06 | 109.55 | 99.94 | 101.51 | 101.74 |
| 2023-05 | 108.61 | 99.63 | 100.75 | 101.21 |
| 2023-04 | 102.77 | 96.51 | 99.73 | 98.32 |
| 2023-03 | 106.25 | 98.51 | 101.46 | 100.45 |
| 2023-02 | 104.28 | 99.58 | 101.73 | 100.86 |
| 2023-01 | 104.53 | 100.54 | 101.67 | 101.42 |
| 2022-12 | 102.27 | 100.19 | 102.25 | 101.08 |
| 2022-11 | 102.19 | 103.32 | 102.03 | 102.79 |
| 2022-10 | 101.23 | 101.86 | 102.97 | 102.09 |
| 2022-09 | 103.28 | 102.59 | 104.81 | 103.33 |
| 2022-08 | 101.59 | 101.51 | 102.78 | 101.89 |
| 2022-07 | 96.28 | 100.92 | 101.72 | 100.51 |
| 2022-06 | 97.01 | 101.95 | 103.42 | 101.69 |
| 2022-05 | 97.34 | 100.84 | 103.91 | 101.24 |
| 2022-04 | 94.51 | 102.28 | 103.81 | 101.64 |
| 2022-03 | 97.8 | 103.47 | 103.55 | 102.7 |
| 2022-02 | 99.15 | 103.54 | 103.22 | 102.84 |
| 2022-01 | 101.13 | 102.09 | 102.85 | 102.18 |
| 2021-12 | 99.83 | 100.32 | 103.46 | 101.16 |
| 2021-11 | 99.96 | 102.94 | 102.92 | 102.52 |
| 2021-10 | 99.47 | 101.15 | 102.76 | 101.38 |
| 2021-09 | 99.0 | 100.03 | 101.64 | 100.35 |
| 2021-08 | 100.15 | 100.24 | 101.5 | 100.59 |
| 2021-07 | 99.24 | 100.92 | 101.36 | 100.82 |
| 2021-06 | 102.16 | 102.02 | 101.3 | 101.83 |
| 2021-05 | 97.87 | 98.37 | 98.94 | 98.47 |
| 2021-04 | 99.38 | 98.13 | 92.85 | 96.77 |
| 2021-03 | 101.5 | 99.12 | 98.13 | 99.16 |
| 2021-02 | 98.89 | 97.91 | 97.87 | 98.03 |
| 2021-01 | 102.56 | 98.85 | 97.26 | 98.91 |
graphiqueChanges in sales volumes in trade
- Source: DGFiP, INSEE.
tableauChanges in sales volumes in trade
| Nace Classification | Weight | Mar. 2026 | Change in % | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 2026/Jan. 2026 | Mar. 2026/Feb. 2026 | q-o-q(1) | y-o-y(2) | |||
| G Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 10,000 | 103.7 | -0.1 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 2.6 |
| 45 Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 1,397 | 106.6 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 2.5 |
| 451 Sale of motor vehicles | 901 | 107.8 | 4.1 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 3.5 |
| 452 Maintenance and repair of motor vehicles | 103 | 104.7 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 1.9 |
| 453 Sale of motor vehicle parts and accessories | 363 | 105.6 | -0.2 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.4 |
| 454 Sale, maintenance and repair of motorcycles and related parts and accessories | 30 | 88.1 | 0.4 | -0.3 | 3.8 | 1.2 |
| 46 Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 5,703 | 100.9 | -0.3 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 2.7 |
| 461 Wholesale on a fee or contract basis | 872 | 92.1 | 0.6 | 0.5 | -0.2 | 0.5 |
| 462 Agricultural raw materials and live animals | 307 | 107.0 | -3.2 | -0.1 | -1.1 | 10.8 |
| 463 Food, beverages and tobacco | 1,046 | 96.0 | -1.2 | -0.2 | 0.9 | 1.3 |
| 464 Household goods | 1,129 | 110.3 | 0.3 | -0.2 | 0.5 | 2.7 |
| 465 Information and communication equipment | 331 | 118.8 | -1.4 | 3.9 | 7.9 | 11.2 |
| 466 Other machinery, equipment and supplies | 748 | 99.7 | 0.2 | -0.1 | 0.7 | 1.0 |
| 467 Other specialised wholesale | 1,161 | 96.9 | 0.3 | 4.5 | 1.1 | 2.0 |
| 469 Non specialised wholesale trade | 111 | 100.5 | -1.0 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 1.3 |
| 47 Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 2,900 | 107.7 | -1.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 2.3 |
| 471 Retail sale in non-specialised stores | 1,002 | 103.7 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 2.1 |
| 472 to 477 Retail sale in specialised stores | 1,621 | 110.6 | -2.0 | 1.2 | -0.4 | 1.7 |
| 472 Food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores | 223 | 100.0 | -0.4 | -0.9 | -0.6 | 1.6 |
| 473 Automotive fuel in specialised stores | 266 | 102.6 | -1.0 | -1.0 | -0.2 | 0.5 |
| 474 Information and communication equipment in specialised stores | 55 | 133.1 | 0.1 | 2.5 | -2.1 | 4.5 |
| 475 Other household equipment in specialised stores | 296 | 85.0 | -4.6 | 2.0 | -0.4 | -1.7 |
| 476 Cultural and recreation goods in specialised stores | 110 | 111.9 | -0.5 | 1.8 | -0.1 | 2.4 |
| 477 Other goods in specialised stores | 671 | 126.5 | -2.4 | 2.0 | -0.4 | 3.0 |
| 478 and 479 Retail trade not in stores | 277 | 105.5 | -0.3 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 6.9 |
- (1) Quarter-on-quarter: last three months / previous three months.
- (2) Year-on-year: last three months / same three months of previous year.
- Source: DGFiP, INSEE.
Revisions
The monthly percentage change in the overall trade sales volume for February 2026 has been revised upwards by 0.1 points compared to the previous release, and now stands at -0.1%.
tableauRevision of variationsin percentage points
| Dec. 2025/Nov. 2025 | Jan. 2026/Dec. 2025 | Feb. 2026/Jan. 2026 | Q4 2025/Q3 2025 | 2025/2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G Overall trade | 0.06 | -0.14 | 0.10 | 0.07 | 0.01 |
| Raw series | 0.08 | -0.06 | -0.15 | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| SA-WDA parameters | -0.02 | -0.08 | 0.25 | 0.06 | 0.00 |
- How to read: in the “wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles”, the SA-WDA variation between January and February 2026 is revised by +0.10 points : -0.15 points due to the revisions of raw data and +0.25 points due to the new calculation of the SA-WDA parameters.
- Source: DGFiP, INSEE.
For more information
* All data are seasonally and working-day adjusted (SA-WDA). In the commentary, percentage changes by sub-sectors are presented, with some exceptions, in descending order of their contribution to the overall percentage change of the volume of sales. The contribution of a sub-sector takes into account its weight and the scale of its change.
Next issue: 24 June 2026 at 08:45 am.
Pour en savoir plus
Time series: Sales volume in wholesale and retail trade (base 2021)
Time series: Turnover index in wholesale and retail trade (base 2021)
Informations Rapides: Sales volume in wholesale and retail trade
Insee Méthodes n° 143 - June 2023: turnover in industry and construction, index of services production and sales volume in wholesale and retail trade