Andorra Retail Sales Plunge 13.5% in February 2026 Due to French Road Closure

Retail sales in Andorra's commerce sector dropped 13.5% year-on-year in February 2026, driven primarily by the closure of the French RN20 road from January 31 to March 9 due to a landslide, which curtailed French tourist arrivals and hampered business activity.

Statistics Department data, released on Monday, show declines across all categories at current prices: food sales fell 12.1%, other products 7.3%, and fuels 24.1%. At constant prices, excluding inflation effects, the overall volume decline deepened to 14.3%, with the sales index slipping from 89.5 in February 2025 to 76.7. Food indices moved from 75.9 to 65 (-14.3%), other products from 35 to 76.9 (-9.6%), and fuels from 116.4 to 97 (-16.7%). Sales also declined 13.7% from January.

Employment in retail contracted 4.6% year-on-year, with the index falling from 107.5 to 102.6. The workforce composition remained stable, comprising 58.8% women, 41.2% men, 85.5% full-time positions, and 14.5% part-time.

Large retail outlets experienced milder declines, with sales down 2.1% at current prices—food dropped 5%, while non-food items rose 1.5%. At constant prices, the fall widened to 4.7%, the index shifting from 86 to 82. Food indices decreased from 92.9 to 86.1 (-7.4%), and other products from 76.5 to 75.8 (-0.9%). Employment grew 2.4% to 100.4 from 98, featuring 64.2% women, 35.8% men, 91.5% full-time, and 8.5% part-time. Compared to January, large outlet sales tumbled 14.9%.

The monthly sales index, drawn from a representative sample of businesses, underscores the sector's exposure to border disruptions like the RN20 closure.