Retail turnover over 3 percent up in May

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 May 2019 was 4.4 percent higher than in the same month last year.

Turnover growth non-food sector 3.5 percent up

Turnover in the non-food sector was up by 3.5 percent in May year-on-year. The volume of sales (adjusted for price changes) increased by 3.6 percent.

Shops selling furniture and household articles achieved the highest turnover growth in May. Turnover of shops selling DIY products, kitchens and flooring and shops selling consumer electronics also increased.

However, turnover generated by shops selling recreational goods, shops selling personal care products, clothes shops and shops selling shoes and leather products was down in May year-on-year.

Turnover food sector down

Shops selling food, beverages and tobacco achieved 0.4 percent less turnover than in May 2018. Turnover of supermarkets hardly changed, while specialist shops saw their turnover decline by over 2 percent. The volume of sales by supermarkets and specialist shops declined year-on-year.

Online shops realise almost 20 percent turnover growth

In May, online shops saw their turnover go up by 19.6 percent year-on-year. Web shops recorded a turnover increase of 18.8 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 20.8 percent higher turnover in online sales.