Informations Rapides ·
21 October 2026 · n° 251
In August 2026, sales volume in trade was virtually stable (-0.1%) Sales volume in wholesale and retail trade - August 2026
In August 2026, the volume of sales in trade was virtually stable over a month (-0.1%), after a 0.4% decrease in July.
In August 2026, the volume of sales in trade was virtually stable over a month (-0.1%), after a 0.4% decrease in July.
In August 2026, declines in wholesale trade and motor vehicle trade were offset by a rise in retail trade
In August 2026*, the volume of sales fell slightly in wholesale trade except that of motor vehicles and motorcycles (-0.2% after -0.7% in July). This further decline was mainly due to a contraction in wholesale on a fee or contract basis (-3.2% after -0.5%). This decrease was largely offset by a rebound in the wholesale trade of other machinery, equipment and supplies (+2.0% after -2.1%) and in “other specialised wholesale” (fuels, wood, chemicals, etc.) (+1.3% after -2.2%).
The volume of sales also fell in the trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (-0.6% after -0.9% in July), mainly due to the continued decline in the sale of motor vehicles (-1.2% after -1.1%).
Conversly, the volume of sales rose again moderatly in retail trade except that of motor vehicles and motorcycles (+0.3% after +0.4%). This rise was driven by a sharp rebound in retail trade not in stores (+2.8% after -0.3%) and by an acceleration in non-specialised stores (+0.8% after +0.5%). However, these rises were partly offset by the downturn in sales in specialised stores (-0.5% after +0.5%), particularly in sales of “other goods in specialised stores” (pharmacies, clothing shops, shoe shops, etc.) (-1.2% after +1.5%) and in sales of automotive fuel (-2.4% after +0.4%).
tableauChanges in sales volumes in trade
| Motor vehicles and motorcycles - 45 | Wholesale - 46 | Retail trade - 47 | Wholesale and retail trade - G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08 | 104.16 | 98.14 | 109.66 | 102.32 |
| 2026-07 | 104.77 | 98.29 | 109.38 | 102.41 |
| 2026-06 | 105.76 | 98.96 | 108.92 | 102.79 |
| 2026-05 | 105.68 | 98.57 | 108.46 | 102.43 |
| 2026-04 | 106.97 | 100.05 | 108.62 | 103.5 |
| 2026-03 | 106.88 | 100.69 | 108.04 | 103.69 |
| 2026-02 | 106.31 | 99.58 | 107.2 | 102.73 |
| 2026-01 | 103.82 | 99.99 | 108.32 | 102.94 |
| 2025-12 | 105.77 | 100.15 | 107.96 | 103.2 |
| 2025-11 | 105.3 | 98.49 | 107.87 | 102.16 |
| 2025-10 | 105.04 | 99.08 | 107.64 | 102.39 |
| 2025-09 | 105.35 | 99.26 | 106.96 | 102.35 |
| 2025-08 | 105.96 | 99.58 | 106.75 | 102.55 |
| 2025-07 | 104.39 | 98.24 | 106.16 | 101.4 |
| 2025-06 | 103.05 | 99.35 | 106.13 | 101.83 |
| 2025-05 | 102.7 | 98.68 | 105.98 | 101.36 |
| 2025-04 | 103.06 | 98.65 | 106.25 | 101.47 |
| 2025-03 | 103.1 | 97.59 | 105.33 | 100.6 |
| 2025-02 | 103.04 | 97.48 | 105.22 | 100.5 |
| 2025-01 | 103.03 | 97.46 | 104.86 | 100.38 |
| 2024-12 | 104.59 | 97.41 | 103.97 | 100.32 |
| 2024-11 | 104.67 | 97.5 | 104.28 | 100.47 |
| 2024-10 | 105.07 | 96.7 | 103.87 | 99.95 |
| 2024-09 | 103.21 | 97.07 | 104.6 | 100.11 |
| 2024-08 | 104.55 | 98.21 | 105.15 | 101.11 |
| 2024-07 | 103.74 | 97.54 | 102.67 | 99.89 |
| 2024-06 | 103.94 | 97.59 | 102.02 | 99.76 |
| 2024-05 | 105.6 | 99.17 | 102.61 | 101.07 |
| 2024-04 | 105.86 | 100.01 | 102.68 | 101.6 |
| 2024-03 | 105.03 | 98.75 | 102.54 | 100.73 |
| 2024-02 | 108.52 | 101.32 | 103.33 | 102.91 |
| 2024-01 | 106.66 | 99.13 | 102.2 | 101.07 |
| 2023-12 | 110.9 | 99.8 | 101.95 | 101.97 |
| 2023-11 | 108.25 | 97.97 | 102.05 | 100.59 |
| 2023-10 | 109.01 | 99.3 | 100.82 | 101.1 |
| 2023-09 | 110.24 | 99.43 | 100.92 | 101.37 |
| 2023-08 | 109.49 | 100.23 | 99.83 | 101.41 |
| 2023-07 | 109.55 | 100.19 | 102.12 | 102.06 |
| 2023-06 | 109.46 | 99.94 | 101.54 | 101.73 |
| 2023-05 | 108.57 | 99.71 | 100.82 | 101.27 |
| 2023-04 | 102.53 | 96.35 | 99.84 | 98.22 |
| 2023-03 | 106.42 | 98.42 | 101.4 | 100.4 |
| 2023-02 | 104.36 | 99.49 | 101.73 | 100.82 |
| 2023-01 | 104.79 | 100.55 | 101.64 | 101.46 |
| 2022-12 | 101.9 | 100.17 | 102.2 | 101.0 |
| 2022-11 | 102.14 | 103.33 | 102.02 | 102.79 |
| 2022-10 | 101.19 | 101.92 | 102.99 | 102.13 |
| 2022-09 | 103.31 | 102.65 | 104.85 | 103.38 |
| 2022-08 | 101.64 | 101.54 | 102.72 | 101.89 |
| 2022-07 | 96.47 | 101.0 | 101.68 | 100.57 |
| 2022-06 | 96.95 | 101.96 | 103.43 | 101.68 |
| 2022-05 | 97.34 | 100.83 | 103.99 | 101.26 |
| 2022-04 | 94.42 | 102.13 | 103.86 | 101.56 |
| 2022-03 | 97.88 | 103.42 | 103.5 | 102.67 |
| 2022-02 | 99.23 | 103.5 | 103.23 | 102.83 |
| 2022-01 | 101.3 | 102.13 | 102.84 | 102.22 |
| 2021-12 | 99.57 | 100.32 | 103.42 | 101.11 |
| 2021-11 | 99.97 | 102.93 | 102.95 | 102.52 |
| 2021-10 | 99.42 | 101.17 | 102.8 | 101.4 |
| 2021-09 | 98.99 | 100.06 | 101.66 | 100.37 |
| 2021-08 | 100.17 | 100.25 | 101.48 | 100.6 |
| 2021-07 | 99.32 | 100.97 | 101.32 | 100.84 |
| 2021-06 | 102.13 | 102.0 | 101.34 | 101.83 |
| 2021-05 | 97.92 | 98.41 | 98.98 | 98.51 |
| 2021-04 | 99.31 | 98.04 | 92.84 | 96.71 |
| 2021-03 | 101.56 | 99.07 | 98.09 | 99.13 |
| 2021-02 | 98.99 | 97.89 | 97.88 | 98.04 |
| 2021-01 | 102.66 | 98.89 | 97.24 | 98.94 |
graphiqueChanges in sales volumes in trade
- Source: DGFiP, INSEE.
Sales volume was up by 0.6% year on year
The cumulative volume of sales in overall trade between June and August 2026 was up by 0.6% compared to the same period a year earlier. It rose significantly in the retail trade (+2.8%), more moderately in the trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (+0.4%), while it decreased in wholesale trade (-0.6%).
Within the retail trade, sales increased markedly year on year in all three main sub-sectors: +3.5% in non-specialised stores, +2.0% in specialised stores and +5.6% in retail trade not in stores.
tableauSales volume in wholesale trade and retail trade
| Nace Classification | Weight | Aug. 2026 | Change in % | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026/June 2026 | Aug. 2026/July 2026 | q-o-q(1) | y-o-y(2) | |||
| G Wholesale and retail trade | 10,000 | 102.3 | -0.4 | -0.1 | -0.7 | 0.6 |
| 45 Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 1,397 | 104.2 | -0.9 | -0.6 | -1.5 | 0.4 |
| 451 Sale of motor vehicles | 901 | 105.1 | -1.1 | -1.2 | -1.9 | 1.8 |
| 452 Maintenance and repair of motor vehicles | 103 | 105.5 | 0.5 | 0.8 | -0.5 | 0.9 |
| 453 Sale of motor vehicle parts and accessories | 363 | 103.1 | -0.8 | 0.5 | -0.7 | -2.8 |
| 454 Sale, maintenance and repair of motorcycles and related parts and accessories | 30 | 84.0 | -1.0 | 0.8 | -2.3 | -3.7 |
| 46 Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 5,703 | 98.1 | -0.7 | -0.2 | -1.3 | -0.6 |
| 461 Wholesale on a fee or contract basis | 872 | 86.9 | -0.5 | -3.2 | -1.5 | -3.8 |
| 462 Agricultural raw materials and live animals | 307 | 96.6 | -0.4 | -2.8 | -4.0 | -9.0 |
| 463 Food, beverages and tobacco | 1,046 | 93.7 | -1.4 | 0.4 | -0.9 | -0.5 |
| 464 Household goods | 1,129 | 110.8 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 2.2 |
| 465 Information and communication equipment | 331 | 120.3 | 4.3 | -1.4 | -0.2 | 9.7 |
| 466 Other machinery, equipment and supplies | 748 | 99.4 | -2.1 | 2.0 | -0.9 | -1.5 |
| 467 Other specialised wholesale | 1,161 | 91.2 | -2.2 | 1.3 | -3.9 | -2.3 |
| 469 Non specialised wholesale trade | 111 | 101.5 | -3.8 | -0.4 | 1.7 | 4.9 |
| 47 Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 2,900 | 109.7 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 2.8 |
| 471 Retail sale in non-specialised stores | 1,002 | 106.5 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 3.5 |
| 472 to 477 Retail sale in specialised stores | 1,621 | 111.5 | 0.5 | -0.5 | 1.1 | 2.0 |
| 472 Food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores | 223 | 104.2 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 2.2 |
| 473 Automotive fuel in specialised stores | 266 | 95.4 | 0.4 | -2.4 | 0.1 | -6.5 |
| 474 Information and communication equipment in specialised stores | 55 | 133.2 | -1.8 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 3.1 |
| 475 Other household equipment in specialised stores | 296 | 85.2 | -1.3 | 0.9 | -0.7 | -0.5 |
| 476 Cultural and recreation goods in specialised stores | 110 | 112.5 | -0.7 | 1.9 | -0.2 | 2.2 |
| 477 Other goods in specialised stores | 671 | 129.9 | 1.5 | -1.2 | 2.2 | 5.3 |
| 478 and 479 Retail trade not in stores | 277 | 110.5 | -0.3 | 2.8 | 1.7 | 5.6 |
- (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 July 2026 has been reduced by 0.3 points compared to the previous release (-0.4% instead of -0.1%), due to the inclusion of late declarations from enterprises during the summer holidays.
tableauRevision of variationsin percentage points
| May 2026/Apr. 2026 | June 2026/May 2026 | July 2026/June 2026 | Q2 2026/Q1 2026 | 2025/2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G Overall trade | 0.00 | 0.00 | -0.31 | -0.02 | 0.01 |
| Raw series | 0.01 | 0.04 | -0.33 | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| SA-WDA parameters | -0.01 | -0.04 | 0.02 | -0.02 | 0.00 |
- How to read: in the “wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles”, the SA-WDA variation between June and July 2026 is revised by -0.31 points : -0.33 points due to the revisions of raw data and +0.02 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: 20 November 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