Retail turnover 1.5 percent up in March

Retail turnover data have been adjusted for changes in the shopping-day pattern. Retail sales tend to vary from one day to the next. If the shopping-day pattern is not taken into account, retail turnover in March was almost 4 percent higher than in the same month one year previously.

Turnover non-food sector decreased by almost 1 percent

Turnover in the non-food sector decreased by almost 1 percent in March. The volume of sales (adjusted for price changes) was almost 1 percent up year-on-year.

Shops selling furniture and shops selling personal care products achieved the largest turnover increase. Turnover of shops selling consumer electronics and white goods also grew.

Turnover generated by shops selling DIY products, kitchens and flooring decreased for the second consecutive month. Shops selling clothes, recreational goods and shops selling footwear and leather products also recorded turnover losses year-on-year.

Over 1 percent higher turnover for food sector

Shops selling food, beverages and tobacco achieved 1.2 percent turnover growth in March. The volume of sales hardly rose. Supermarkets saw turnover growth, while specialist shops recorded turnover loss. Similarly, volume of sales by supermarkets was up and volume of sales by specialist shops was down.

Online shops realise over 23 percent turnover growth

In March, online shops saw their turnover go up by over 23 percent year-on-year. Web shops recorded a turnover increase of almost 20 percent; their core activity is selling goods and services over the Internet. Multi-channel retailers (retailers selling goods and services over the Internet as a side activity) achieved over 29 percent higher turnover in online sales. 

With effect from the reporting month January 2018, retail turnover figures are published using 2015 as the base year (previously 2010=100). This means that the indices are based on the turnover and price weightings from 2015.