Publix’s comparable-store sales slip as net sales rise just 1% in Q2
Publix reported a decline in comparable-store sales during its most recent quarter while net sales edged up only 1% in the quarter ended June 27. By comparison, the chain’s sales had risen 7.3% and comparable-store sales had grown 6% in the second quarter of 2025.
The decline continues a slide that began in the second half of 2025, according to the company’s earnings statement. Publix cited the Inflation Reduction Act’s cut to Medicare drug reimbursements and broader economic pressures on consumer spending as reasons for the soft performance. Analysts noted that rivals such as Kroger posted nearly flat comparable-store sales and Albertsons reported negative same-store sales in their latest quarters.
“I think what we can discern is that Publix overall, including in core grocery, is fairly soft, and I think that does raise some questions around whether the proposition is still delivering, whether consumer behaviors are changing,” Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData Retail said.
Publix has long enjoyed an enviable position in the U.S. supermarket industry, drawing shoppers with its customer service and highly regarded sub sandwiches. Those advantages helped Publix dominate the grocery industry in Florida, its largest market, and fueled expansion into Southeastern states such as Kentucky and Virginia. The chain has drawn praise from analysts for its ability to charge higher prices than competitors.
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The company’s net sales have also lost steam over that period, edging up by only 1% during this year’s second quarter of this year, which ended June 27.
By comparison, Publix’s sales rose 7.3% and its comps grew 6% during the second quarter of 2025.
Kroger, for example, posted nearly flat comparable-store sales growth during its most recent quarter,
while Albertsons reported negative same-store sales when it published its latest financial results.