IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Measured in real terms (constant 2012 prices), retail trade sales increased by 1,5% year-on-year in April 2016. The highest annual growth rates were recorded for retailers in:

• pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries (8,0%);
• hardware, paint and glass (5,4%); and
• food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores (3,1%).

The main contributors to the 1,5% increase were retailers in:

• pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries (contributing 0,6 of a percentage point);
• textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (contributing 0,5 of a percentage point); and
• hardware, paint and glass (contributing 0,4 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales decreased by 1,7% month-on-month in April 2016. This followed month-on-month changes of 0,3% in March 2016 and 0,3% in February 2016. In the three months ended April 2016, seasonally adjusted retail trade sales decreased by 0,5% compared with the previous three months.

Retail trade sales increased by 2,8% in the three months ended April 2016 compared with the three months ended April 2015. The main contributors to this increase were:

• general dealers (3,2% and contributing 1,3 percentage points); and
• retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (3,8% and contributing 0,7 of a percentage point).