Retail turnover down

Retail turnover was more than 2 percent lower in April than one year previously. Smaller sales volumes relative to April 2008 fully accounted for the downturn; prices remained more or less unchanged.

Retail turnover is affected by the number of shopping days and the holiday pattern. In 2009, April had a Tuesday less and an a Thursday more than in 2008. Easter was in April this year, but last year in March. After correction for this effect, turnover was nearly 4 percent lower than last year.

Turnover of non-food shops was down by 5 percent compared with April last year. Only clothes shops and textile supermarkets realised higher turnover levels. Other branches in the non-food sector faced turnover loss relative to April 2008.Turnover losses in shops selling consumer electronics and home furnishing articles even dipped into double digits.

Shops in the food sector generated nearly 7 percent more turnover in April. Food prices were 4 percent higher than one year previously. Supermarkets completely accounted for the turnover increase, shops specialised in food realised less turnover than twelve months previously.

Turnover realised by petrol stations plummeted by nearly 14 percent. The loss was almost entirely due to lower fuel prices.

Retail turnover