IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Measured in real terms (constant 2012 prices), retail trade sales increased by 0,2% year-on-year in August 2016. Positive annual growth rates were recorded for:

• retailers in pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries (6,6%);
• retailers in food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores (2,6%);
• retailers in hardware, paint and glass (1,4%); and
• general dealers (1,2%).

The main contributors to the 0,2% increase were:

• general dealers (contributing 0,5 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 increased by 0,3% month-on-month in August 2016. This followed month-on-month changes of -0,2% in July 2016 and -1,9% in June 2016. In the three months ended August 2016, seasonally adjusted retail trade sales decreased by 0,6% compared with the previous three months.

Retail trade sales increased by 0,9% in the three months ended August 2016 compared with the three months ended August 2015. The main contributors to this increase were:

• general dealers (1,5% and contributing 0,7 of a percentage point); and
• retailers in pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries (7,4% and contributing 0,6 of a percentage point).