IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Measured in real terms (constant 2015 prices), retail trade sales increased by 0,5% year-on-year in April 2018.  Positive annual growth rates were recorded for:

• retailers in household furniture, appliances and equipment (11,0%);
• retailers in pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries (6,2%); and
• all 'other' retailers (5,6%).

The main contributor to the 0,5% increase was all 'other' retailers (contributing 0,6 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales decreased by 1,2% in April 2018 compared with March 2018. This followed month-on-month changes of -0,2% in March 2018 and 1,4% in February 2018.

In the three months ended April 2018, seasonally adjusted retail trade sales decreased by 1,2% compared with the previous three months.

Retail trade sales increased by 3,1% in the three months ended April 2018 compared with the three months ended April 2017. The main contributors to this increase were:

• retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (5,1% and contributing 0,8 of a percentage  point);
• general dealers (1,5% and contributing 0,7 of a percentage point);
• retailers in household furniture, appliances and equipment (14,2% and contributing 0,6 of a percentage  point); and
• all 'other' retailers (5,4% and contributing 0,6 of a percentage point).