Positive macroeconomic indicators and the growth in retail sales recorded since the beginning of the year suggest that we will spend more for the upcoming Easter holidays compared to 2024. In the four weeks before Easter last year, 1.80 billion euros of turnover was achieved in Retail Trade, excluding motor vehicles and motorcycles. The highest turnover was recorded on Good Friday (29.3. 2024), 97 million euros, and it was slightly lower on Maundy Thursday.
According to the latest available data, in the comparable period this year, there was a slight growth in fiscalized invoices of 2.10%, an increase in the amount of fiscalized invoices of 9.54% and an increase in the amount of the average invoice of 5.75%. Assuming the trend continues, it is estimated that this year we will spend more than 1.95 billion euros in the four weeks before Easter, or 9% more than last year.
According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, in the first two months of this year, calendar-adjusted retail trade turnover grew by 3.5% in real terms compared to the same period in 2024. Also, in February, annual retail turnover growth of 2.6% was recorded, continuing the positive trend – for the 23rd consecutive month, retail sales have recorded annual growth.
On the other hand, on a monthly basis, a slight slowdown was recorded in February. The total turnover of all business entities in the retail trade sector fell by 0.9% in real terms compared to January 2025.
“Given that personal consumption is the largest component of gross domestic product (GDP), the continued growth of retail turnover in the first months of this year indicates stable economic growth in the first quarter of 2025, despite the challenges posed by geopolitical uncertainties. Easter, which falls later this year in terms of the calendar, is traditionally associated with the start of the tourist season, which may further affect consumption,” comments Maja Bogović, Director of the Trade Sector of the Croatian Chamber of Economy.