Retail turnover over 4 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 2019 was 1.1 percent higher than in the same month last year.

Turnover growth non-food sector almost 3 percent up

Turnover in the non-food sector was up by 2.6 percent in March year-on-year. The volume of sales (adjusted for price changes) increased by 1.9 percent.

Shops selling DIY products, kitchens and flooring, shops selling shoes and leather products and shops selling furniture and household articles achieved the highest turnover growth in March. Turnover of shops selling recreational goods, shops selling consumer electronics and shops selling personal care products also increased. Turnover generated by clothes shops was virtually the same as in March 2018.

Over 4 percent turnover growth for food sector

Shops selling food, beverages and tobacco achieved 4.1 percent more turnover than in March 2018. The volume of sales increased by 3.2 percent. Supermarkets saw turnover growth, while specialist shops saw their turnover decline. The volume of sales by supermarkets grew, while the volume of sales by specialist shops declined year-on-year.

Online shops realise almost 17 percent turnover growth

In March, online shops saw their turnover go up by 16.7 percent. Web shops recorded a turnover increase of 13.7 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 21.6 percent higher turnover in online sales.