IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Measured in real terms (constant 2012 prices), retail trade sales increased by 4,2% year-on-year in February 2015. The highest annual growth rates were recorded for retailers in:

• hardware, paint and glass (9,0%); and
• food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores (6,0%).

The main contributors to the 4,2% increase were general dealers (contributing 2,0 percentage points) and retailers in hardware, paint and glass (contributing 0,7 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 1,9% month-on-month in February 2015. This followed month-on-month changes of 0,2% in January 2015 and -0,8% in December 2014.

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 0,9% in the three months ended February 2015 compared with the previous three months.

Retail trade sales increased by 2,6% in the three months ended February 2015 compared with the three months ended February 2014. The main contributors to this increase were:

• retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (5,0% and contributing 1,1 percentage points);  and
• general dealers (1,2% and contributing 0,5 of a percentage point).