Activity in pharmacies also contracted. In contrast, there was a good performance of e-commerce and independent self-services.
After a decrease in SME retail sales was known in September, a study revealed a 4.4% year-on-year drop in mass consumptiondetermined by a reduction in activity in chain supermarkets (-4.4%) and in pharmacies (-1.8%). An important firm announced adjustment measures in three provinces.
The survey was disseminated in the latest report from the specialized consulting firm Scentia, which also indicated that September 2025 had a negative balance compared to August of the same year: a 3.7% drop in a month, again with a strong incidence of setback in supermarkets, around 5.9%. Even so, the first nine months of the year had a 1.8% growth if they are compared to the same period in 2024.
The positive aspect continues to be the increase in activity in e-commercewhich reflects the migration in consumer habits. He year-on-year increase in this segment is 14.7%while the monthly increase was 1.1%. In the comparison between September 2025 and the same month of 2024, it also reflected growth in independent self-service activity (8.6%) and wholesalers (8.5%).
Mass Consumption September
Fall in retail consumption
The SME retail sales In September they registered an interannual variation of -4.2% at constant prices, while, in the seasonally adjusted monthly comparison, the variation was -2%. So far this year, they have accumulated a year-on-year increase of 5%.
In the analysis published by CAME, the situation was homogeneous, with year-on-year falls in all sectors. The most affected were Textile and clothing (-10.9%) and Bazaar, decoration, home textiles and furniture (-6.2%). In the month-on-month comparison, the trend was similar, except in Perfumerywhich registered a growth of 1.4% compared to the previous month, and in Hardware, electrical and construction materialswhich maintained the same sales levels.
In summary, September closed with a general decline in SME retail sales, reflecting the fragility of domestic consumption and the impact of economic and political uncertainty. Although all items showed year-on-year falls, Perfumery achieved a slight monthly rebound in contrast to the declines in Textile and clothing and Bazaar and decorationthe most affected. The loss of purchasing power, household debt and the lack of commercial stimuli conditioned demand, in a scenario where prudence and the expectation of stability predominate in the final months of the year.
In relation to the economic situation of the businesses, 55% indicated that it remained the same as last year. However, 38% noticed a worsening, three percentage points above August, which was reflected in the reduction in the percentage of merchants who perceived an improvement (7.2%).
Source: Ambito
