Retail food sales in large supermarket chains in the Autonomous Region of the Azores recorded a strong year-on-year increase in December 2025, according to data released by the Serviço Regional de Estatística dos Açores (SREA).

At constant prices (gross values deflated), sales rose 6.29% from December 2024. At current prices, the year-on-year increase reached 9.31%, reflecting not only higher sales volumes but also price effects.

According to the statistical bulletin published yesterday, the Retail Trade Sales Index – Food Products also posted a quarter-on-quarter year-on-year increase of 6.92% at constant prices in December. Looking at the average variation over the last 12 months, sales were up 8.58%.

When values at constant prices are adjusted for calendar and seasonal effects, SREA reports a month-on-month increase of 0.63% in December, compared with November. Under the same adjusted measure, the year-on-year monthly variation was 7.52%, the year-on-year quarterly variation was 7.79%, and the 12-month average variation was 8.95%.

At current prices (gross values), in addition to the 9.31% year-on-year increase, the average variation over the last 12 months reached 11.13%, while the year-on-year quarterly variation stood at 9.80%.

SREA tables also highlight the typical seasonal effect of the Christmas period. In December, the month-on-month increase (compared with November) was 23.71% at constant prices and 21.54% at current prices.

At the index level (Base 2015 = 100), the indicator reached 178.908 points at constant prices and 237.339 points at current prices.

In its methodological note, SREA emphasizes that these indices are based on the Monthly Survey of Turnover and Employment in Retail Trade, covering companies headquartered in the Azores, particularly those operating large retail outlets. Calendar and seasonal adjustments are carried out using Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) models. The current base year is 2015 = 100, which affects index levels but not growth rates.

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