IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Measured in real terms (constant 2012 prices), retail trade sales increased by 1,9% in 2016 compared with 2015. The main contributors to this increase were:

• retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (3,1% and contributing 0,6 of a percentage point);
• general dealers (1,2% and contributing 0,5 of a percentage point); and
  • retailers in pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries (5,5% and contributing 0,4 of a percentage point).

In December 2016 retail trade sales increased by 0,9% year-on-year. The largest positive annual growth rates were recorded for retailers in:

• textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (10,5%); and
• food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores (7,0%).

The main contributor to the 0,9% increase was retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (contributing 2,3 percentage points).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales decreased by 2,3% month-on-month in December 2016. This followed month-on-month changes of 3,0% in November 2016 and -0,7% in October 2016. In the fourth quarter of 2016, seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 1,1% compared with the previous quarter.

Retail trade sales increased by 1,3% in the fourth quarter of 2016 compared with the fourth quarter of 2015. The main contributor to this increase was retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (5,3% and contributing 1,1 percentage points).