IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

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

• retailers in household furniture, appliances and equipment (-6,4%);
• general dealers (-2,7%); and
• all 'other' retailers (-1,0%).

Negative contributors to the 0,2% decrease were:

• general dealers (contributing -1,1 percentage points);
• retailers in household furniture, appliances and equipment (contributing -0,3 of a percentage point); and
• all 'other' retailers (contributing -0,1 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales decreased by 0,7% month-on-month in October 2016. This followed month-on-month changes of 0,7% in September 2016 and 0,2% in August 2016. In the three months ended October 2016, seasonally adjusted retail trade sales decreased by 0,4% compared with the previous three months.

Retail trade sales increased by 0,5% in the three months ended October 2016 compared with the three months ended October 2015. Positive contributors to this increase were retailers in:

• food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores (6,1% and contributing 0,4 of a percentage point);
• pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries (5,4% and contributing 0,4 of a percentage point); and
• hardware, paint and glass (4,7% and contributing 0,4 of a percentage point).