Retail turnover 5 percent up in February

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 February 2020 was 8.2 percent higher than in the same month last year.

Turnover growth non-food sector over 5 percent higher

In February, turnover in the non-food sector was up by 5.4 percent year-on-year. The volume of sales (adjusted for price changes) increased by 4.5 percent.

Shops selling DIY products, kitchens and flooring, shops selling personal care products, shops selling furniture and household articles, shops selling recreational goods and shops selling consumer electronics and white goods achieved the largest turnover increase in February. Turnover growth achieved by shops selling personal care products can in part be attributed to remarkably high sales at the end of the month. Turnover of shops selling footwear and leather products remained virtually the same. However, turnover of clothes shops declined.

Almost 4 percent turnover growth for food sector

Shops selling food, beverages and tobacco achieved 3.7 percent more turnover in February 2020 than in the same month last year. The volume of sales increased by 1.5 percent. Supermarkets saw a turnover growth of 4.1 percent, while turnover of specialist shops increased by almost 1 percent. Sales of some products at supermarkets such as soap were up notably at the end of the month.

Online shops realise 17 percent turnover growth

In February 2020, online shops saw their turnover go up by 17 percent relative to February 2019. Web shops recorded a turnover increase of 15.8 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 18.8 percent higher turnover in online sales.

Developments related to the coronavirus outbreak are still barely visible in the figures for the reporting month of February. However, sales in various shops were notably higher than usual in the last week of the month.