IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Measured in real terms (constant 2015 prices), retail trade sales increased by 3,2% year-on-year in October 2017. The highest annual growth rates were recorded for:

• retailers in pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries (5,7%);
• retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (5,5%); and
• retailers in household furniture, appliances and equipment (5,4%).

The main contributors to the 3,2% increase were:

• all 'other' retailers (contributing 1,7 percentage points); and
• retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (contributing 1,0 percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales decreased by 0,1% month-on-month in October 2017. This followed month-on-month changes of -0,4% in September 2017 and 2,6% in August 2017. In the three months ended October 2017, seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 1,9% compared with the previous three months.

Retail trade sales increased by 4,7% in the three months ended October 2017 compared with the three months ended October 2016. The main contributors to this increase were:

• all 'other' retailers (20,4% and contributing 2,2 percentage points);
• retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (5,4% and contributing 0,9 of a percentage point); and
• general dealers (1,8% and contributing 0,8 of a percentage point).