Modest increase retail turnover

In October, retailers generated almost 3 percent more turnover than in the same month of 2005. Compared with October 2005, the shopping day pattern was less favourable in October 2006. After a rough correction for shopping days, retail turnover in October was 4 percent up on one year previously.

Non-food shops generated almost 3 percent more turnover, while sales in food shops were over 1 percent higher than in the same month of the previous year. Retail products were almost 1 percent more expensive in October 2006 than October 2005.

Price rises in food shops almost equalled the increase in turnover. The volume of sales hardly changed compared to October 2005. Prices of products sold in non-food shops were almost 1 percent higher in October. The volume of sales in food and non-food shops rose by almost 2 percent compared to one year ago.

Retail sales improved clearly since mid-2005. Turnover in the first ten months of 2006 increased by almost 6 percent, relative to the same period in 2005. The high growth follows a three-year period of decline. In the first ten months of 2006, consumer prices increased moderately (well under 1 percent). The robust growth in retail turnover also becomes manifest in household final consumption expenditure.

Turnover in retail trade