Key findings: P6242.1 - Retail trade sales, December 2007

Retail trade sales growth in real terms continues to slow down

Retail trade sales at constant (2000) prices for the year 2007 showed an increase of 5,1% compared with 2006. This is lower than the reported growth of 9,6% for 2006 compared with 2005.

Retail trade sales at constant (2000) prices, for the fourth quarter of 2007, showed an increase of 0,3% compared with the fourth quarter of 2006. However, retail trade sales at constant (2000) prices, for December 2007, decreased by 0,5% compared with December 2006. The negative growth rates for November and December 2007 are the first decreases in real terms in more than six years.

Retail trade sales at current prices, for the fourth quarter of 2007, increased by 9,4% compared with the fourth quarter of 2006. This is lower than the 14,4% increase for the fourth quarter of 2006 compared with the fourth quarter of 2005. Furthermore, retail trade sales at current prices, for December 2007, also increased by 9,4% compared with December 2006.