Retail turnover marginally up

In November 2011, retail turnover was more than 1 percent up on November 2010. Prices of retail commodities were 3 percent higher; retail volume shrank by 2 percent.

Retail turnover is strongly affected by the shopping-day pattern. With a Monday less and a Wednesday more, the shopping-day pattern was somewhat more favourable in November 2011 than in November 2010. The positive effect on turnover is estimated at approximately 0.5 percent.

Shops in the non-food sector suffered a turnover loss of 1 percent. Textile supermarkets, home furnishing shops, DIY shops and consumer electronics shops all struggled with declining turnovers, whereas clothes shops, household appliances shops and chemist shops generated more turnover.

Food, drinks and tobacco shops recorded 2.5 percent turnover growth relative to one year previously. Supermarket sales grew by 3 percent, but specialist shops lost almost 2 percent.

Petrol stations achieved a turnover growth of 7 percent. Petrol prices were 10 percent higher than twelve months previously. Apart from traditional shops and petrol stations, the retail sector also includes mail-order firms and online shops. Turnover realised by mail-order firms and online shops increased by 5 percent.

Retail turnover

More figures can be found in dossier Business cycle.