AZE.US
Nearly half of consumer spending in Azerbaijan went to food products in January-February 2026, highlighting the continued pressure of basic living costs on household budgets.
According to figures cited by local media from the country’s retail trade data, 49.4% of spending in the retail trade network went to food products, while another 5% went to beverages and tobacco.
The same reports said 14.6% of spending went to textiles, clothing and footwear, 5.8% to motor fuel, 4.6% to electrical goods and furniture, 2.9% to pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, 1.6% to computers, telecommunications equipment and printed products, and 16.1% to other non-food goods.
The structure of spending suggests that food remains the dominant expense for many families, leaving less room for discretionary purchases. In practical terms, when such a large share of consumer spending is absorbed by basic goods, it usually points to tighter household finances and weaker purchasing flexibility. This is an inference based on the expenditure breakdown.
The data also shows that retail trade turnover in Azerbaijan increased in real terms during the first two months of the year compared with the same period of 2025, meaning consumer activity grew even as food remained the main destination for spending.
For households, the message is simple: food is still consuming the biggest share of the budget. And as long as that share stays this high, any talk of improving living standards will continue to be measured not by headline growth figures, but by what families actually have left after buying the essentials.