IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Measured in real terms (constant 2012 prices), retail trade sales increased by 3,1% year-on-year in January 2016. The highest annual growth rates were recorded for:

• all 'other' retailers (8,6%);
  
• retailers in pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries (7,0%);
  
• retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (3,0%); and
  
• retailers in household furniture, appliances and equipment (2,6%).

The main contributors to the 3,1% increase were:

• all 'other' retailers (contributing 1,1 percentage points);
  
• general dealers (contributing 0,7 of a percentage point); and
  
• retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (contributing 0,6 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales decreased by 0,3% month-on-month in January 2016. This followed month-on-month changes of -1,0% in December 2015 and 2,4% in November 2015. In the three months ended January 2016 seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 1,4% compared with the previous three months.

Retail trade sales increased by 3,7% in the three months ended January 2016 compared with the three months ended January 2015. The main contributors to this increase were:

• general dealers (3,6% and contributing 1,4 percentage points); and
  
• retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (5,4% and contributing 1,2 percentage points).