Retail sales marginally lower

Retail sales were nearly 1 percent lower in July 2011 than in July 2010. Retail prices were nearly 3 percent higher. As a result, retail volume shrank by nearly 4 percent relative to one year previously.

Retail turnover is affected by the shopping-day pattern. With a Thursday less and a Sunday more, the shopping-day pattern was less favourable in July 2011 than in July 2010. The negative effect on turnover is estimated at approximately nearly 3 percent.

The sector food, drinks and tobacco faced a turnover loss of nearly 3 percent. Sales generated by shops specialised in food, drinks and tobacco were more than 6 percent lower than twelve months previously, whereas supermarket sales declined by 2 percent. Turnover in the non-food sector was nearly 1 percent down. There were considerable differences within the non-food sector. DIY shops, chemist’s shops and household appliances shops suffered between 4 and 5 percent turnover loss, but clothes shops achieved 4 percent turnover growth. Home furnishing shops and consumer electronics shops also generated more turnover than in July 2010.

Petrol stations achieved more than 4 percent turnover growth relative to July 2010. Apart from traditional shops and petrol stations, mail-order firms and online shops are also included in the retail sector. Mail-order and online sales were nearly 7 percent up on one year previously.

Retail turnover

More figures can be found in dossier Business cycle.