IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Measured in real terms (constant 2012 prices), retail trade sales increased by 3,4% year-on-year in December 2014. The highest annual growth rates were recorded for retailers in:

• household furniture, appliances and equipment (9,8%);
  
• pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries (5,6%); and
  
• textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (5,3%).

The main contributors to the 3,4% increase were general dealers (contributing 1,4 percentage points) and retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (contributing 1,3 percentage points).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales decreased by 0,2% month-on-month in December 2014. This followed month-on-month changes of 1,4% in November 2014 and 0,4% in October 2014.

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 1,0% in the fourth quarter of 2014 compared with the previous quarter.

Retail trade sales increased by 3,1% in the fourth quarter of 2014 compared with the fourth quarter of 2013. The main contributors to this increase were:

• general dealers (3,7% and contributing 1,5 percentage points); and
  
• retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (3,3% and contributing 0,7 of a percentage point).