IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Measured in real terms (constant 2012 prices), retail trade sales increased by 2,0% year-on-year in March 2015. The highest annual growth rates were recorded for:

• retailers in hardware, paint and glass (9,9%);
• retailers in pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries (6,8%); and
• all ‘other’ retailers (3,4%).

The main contributors to the 2,0% increase were retailers in hardware, paint and glass (contributing 0,7 of a percentage point) and retailers in pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries (contributing 0,5 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales decreased by 0,5% month-on-month in March 2015. This followed month-on-month changes of 1,6% in February 2015 and 0,1% in January 2015.

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 0,9% in the first quarter of 2015 compared with the previous quarter.

Retail trade sales increased by 2,5% in the first quarter of 2015 compared with the first quarter of 2014. The main contributors to this increase were retailers in:

• hardware, paint and glass (8,6% and contributing 0,6 of a percentage point); and
• textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (3,3% and contributing 0,6 of a percentage point).