IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Measured in real terms (constant 2012 prices), retail trade sales increased by 1,7% year-on-year in May 2017. The highest annual growth rates were recorded for:

• retailers in food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores (14,5%);
• retailers in pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries (5,7%); and
• all 'other' retailers (3,2%).

The main contributors to the 1,7% increase were retailers in:

• food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores (contributing 0,9 of a percentage point);
• pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries (contributing 0,5 of a percentage point); and
• all 'other' retailers (contributing 0,3 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 0,9% month-on-month in May 2017. This followed month-on-month changes of 0,7% in April 2017 and 0,5% in March 2017. In the three months ended May 2017, seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 1,6% compared with the previous three months.

Retail trade sales increased by 1,5% in the three months ended May 2017 compared with the three months ended May 2016. The main contributors to this increase were:

• retailers in food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores (13,6% and contributing 0,9 of a  percentage point);
• general dealers (1,4% and contributing 0,6 of a percentage point); and
• retailers in pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries (5,0% and contributing 0,4 of a  percentage point).