Retailers urge policy relief for bricks-and-mortar shops as online sales boom

Swiss retail sales rose slightly in the first half of 2026. But while online retail continued to grow, parts of the non-food bricks-and-mortar sector saw a decline in turnover. Online retail continued to grow strongly in the first six months of 2026, just as clothing, furniture and other non-food shops again struggled with falling turnover. The retail sector is thus calling for policy interventions, including more flexible shop-opening hours in the evenings and at weekends. Nominal retail…