Retail turnover 3 percent higher

Retail turnover was 3 percent higher in February 2011 than in February 2010. Retail prices were more than 2 percent up. Petrol stations largely accounted for turnover growth. Their turnover was nearly 14 percent up on twelve months previously. The price increase in the retail sector is also largely attributable to petrol stations. Fuel prices soared relative to one year previously.

Shops in the non-food sector generated nearly 2 percent more turnover, but the various branches within the retail sector showed a mixed picture. Household appliances shops, clothing shops, DIY shops and chemist shops achieved good results, whereas home furnishing shops, consumer electronics shops and textile supermarkets grappled with declining sales. Prices in the non-food sector were 0.5 percent up on February 2010.

Shops in the food sector generated a 1.5 percent higher turnover, entirely due to higher supermarket sales. For specialised shops in the food sector, sales were marginally below the level of twelve months previously.

Retail turnover

More figures can be found in dossier Business cycle.