IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Wholesale trade sales in real terms decrease

Wholesale trade sales, at constant (2000) prices, for the three months ended April 2009 decreased by 9,9% compared with the three months ended April 2008, while growth for the same period in 2008 was 10,6%. Seasonally adjusted wholesale trade sales, at constant (2000) prices, for the three months ended April 2009 decreased by 5,5% compared with the three months ended January 2009.

Wholesale trade sales at current prices for April 2009 decreased by 12,6% compared with April 2008, while sales for the corresponding period in 2008 increased by 35,7%. Lower sales in April 2009 may be partly attributed to a shorter trading month as compared to April 2008 due to the Easter period that switched from March in 2008 to April in 2009.
Wholesale trade sales, at constant (2000) prices, for April 2009 decreased by 15,1% compared with April 2008.

Wholesale trade sales, at current prices, for the three months ended April 2009 decreased by 5,3% compared with the three months ended April 2008. The major contributors to this decrease were dealers in solid, liquid and gaseous fuels and related products (-4,7 percentage points), dealers in metal and metal ores (-1,8 percentage points) and dealers in precious stones, jewellery and silverware (-0,9 of a percentage point). However, the decrease was partially offset by a positive contribution of 2,4 percentage points recorded by dealers in food, beverages and tobacco products.