Colombia’s real retail sales rose 5.3 percent year-on-year in July, according to figures released on 16 September 2026 by statistics agency DANE from its Monthly Retail Trade Survey. The gain was led by strong demand across automotive categories, while employed personnel in the sector edged up 1.0 percent compared to the same month in 2025.
Vehicle demand leads growth
Retail sales excluding fuels expanded 7.3 percent year-on-year in July, whereas sales excluding vehicles and motorcycles rose 2.3 percent. Across the retail sector, 14 merchandise lines recorded positive sales growth during the month, while 5 lines recorded sales decreases.
Sales of household motor vehicles and motorcycles jumped 21.8 percent from a year earlier, contributing 2.4 percentage points to overall retail sales growth. Sales of other motor vehicles and motorcycles grew 10.8 percent, adding 1.1 percentage points, while audio and video equipment sales increased 25 percent to add 0.6 percentage points. Together, those three categories contributed 4.1 percentage points to retail sales growth.
Fuel sales for motor vehicles fell 3.6 percent year-on-year. Sales of clothing and textiles dropped 3 percent, and vehicle spare parts and accessories sales declined 2 percent.
Year-to-date trajectory
Between January and July, retail sales grew 11.4 percent compared to the same period in 2025. Across merchandise categories, 18 lines remained in positive territory year-to-date, while 1 line registered a negative change. Cumulative sales of household motor vehicles and motorcycles rose 37.1 percent, other motor vehicles and motorcycles grew 26.5 percent, and computing and telecom equipment expanded 21.1 percent, combining for a 7.1 percentage point contribution.
Retail personnel increased 1.6 percent year-to-date compared to the first seven months of 2025. Permanent staff increased 3.1 percent in July. Employment in motorcycles and parts grew 7.6 percent year-on-year, while new motor vehicle employment advanced 6.7 percent.
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Source: statistics agency DANE
