The Swiss retail sector proved resilient last year, with sales boosted by rising real wages. According to UBS economists, the sector should continue on this path in 2026. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Nominal sales in the Swiss retail sector will have grown by 1% by 2025, according to the UBS Retail Outlook study, carried out in collaboration with the consultancy Fuhrer & Hotz and unveiled on Wednesday. In real terms, adjusted for inflation, growth was 1.8%. The fall in prices is estimated at around 0.8% on average. Real wage growth, driven by pay rises and lower inflation, was a major support for the sector, as was the continuing solid situation on the labour market. The non-food retail sector grew by 2.6% in real terms last year, and sales should continue to rise in 2026, albeit at a slower pace than last year. However, the situation remains tense in certain sectors that are particularly exposed to foreign competition, such as clothing and footwear.
