Retail turnover more than 3 percent higher

In January 2008, retail turnover was more than 3 percent higher than in January 2007, but the  shopping day pattern was more favourable than in January last year. After a rough correction for this effect, retail turnover was about 2 percent higher. Prices were nearly 2 percent up on twelve months previously.

Turnover in the food sector increased by 5 percent in January. Products sold were nearly 3 percent more expensive than in January 2007. Supermarkets almost entirely accounted for the turnover increase. Turnover in specialist shops for food, drinks and tobacco hardly improved relative to one year previously.

For the fourth month in a row,  turnover growth in the food sector was higher than in the non-food sector. Retailers in the non-food sector realised a turnover well over 2 percent higher than in January 2007. Prices were nearly 1 percent up.

In 2007, retail turnover increased by nearly 4 percent, as against more than 5 percent in 2006. Turnover in the food sector increased at the same rate last year as turnover in the non-food sector.

Retail turnover