Key findings: P6242.1 - Retail trade sales, March 2011

Measured in real terms (constant 2008 prices), seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 0,3% in March 2011 compared with February 2011. This followed month-on-month changes of -1,2% in February 2011 and 1,3% in January 2011.

In real terms, retail trade sales for the first quarter of 2011 reflected an increase of 5,6% compared with the first quarter of 2010. The largest contributor to the increase of 5,6% was `general dealers` (5,4% and contributing 2,1 percentage points), followed by `retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods` (5,1% and contributing 1,0 percentage point) and `all other retailers` (6,2% and contributing 0,9 of a percentage point).

Retail trade sales in real terms increased by 5,1% year-on-year in March 2011. The highest annual growth rate was recorded for `retailers in household furniture, appliances and equipment` (11,8%), followed by `general dealers` (8,0%), `retailers in pharmaceutical and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries` (5,6%) and `all other retailers` (5,5%).