IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Measured in real terms (constant 2012 prices), retail trade sales increased by 0,8% year-on-year in March 2017. The highest annual growth rates were recorded for retailers in:

• food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores (14,8%);
• household furniture, appliances and equipment (8,2%); and
• pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries (7,2%).

Positive contributors to the 0,8% increase were retailers in:

• food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores (contributing 1,0 percentage point);
• pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries (contributing 0,6 of a percentage point);
• household furniture, appliances and equipment (contributing 0,4 of a percentage point); and
• hardware, paint and glass (contributing 0,3 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 0,3% month-on-month in March 2017. This followed month-on-month changes of 0,9% in February 2017 and -1,2% in January 2017. In the first quarter of 2017, seasonally adjusted retail trade sales decreased by 1,1% compared with the previous quarter.

Retail trade sales decreased by 1,0% in the first quarter of 2017 compared with the first quarter of 2016. The main negative contributors to this decrease were:

• retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (-6,4% and contributing -1,1 percentage  points);
• general dealers (-1,1% and contributing -0,5 of a percentage point); and
• 'all other' retailers (-3,5% and contributing -0,4 of a percentage point).