Supermarket and shopping mall sales fell again at the start of 2026 and consumption remains weak

In supermarkets, the main thermometer of mass consumption, sales fell 1.5% compared to December in the seasonally adjusted measurement, which does not take into account that purchases accelerate in the last month of each year.

With a rebound in prices in recent months, daily consumption of basic products such as food, beverages, and cleaning and warehouse supplies was reduced.

A similar dynamic was observed in shopping centers. There, sales also showed a slight decrease in real terms: -0.1% year-on-year in January. Although the decline is less than in supermarkets, it confirms that consumption has not managed to take off even in items more linked to discretionary spending, such as clothing or recreation.

Behind these numbers appears a change in consumer behavior. There are more spaced purchases, greater search for promotions and more intensive use of credit or digital payments to sustain spending.

In this context, wholesale self-services show a different dynamic. Unlike supermarkets and shopping malls, they registered a slight real growth of 1.3% year-on-year in January.

The data suggests that many households are choosing to buy in volume or look for lower prices, in a scenario where consumption continues to be conditioned by the loss of purchasing power.