IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Measured in real terms (constant 2015 prices), retail trade sales increased by 2,5% year-on-year in August 2018. The largest annual growth rates were recorded for retailers in:

• household furniture, appliances and equipment (10,4%);
• textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (6,0%); and
• pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries (3,1%).

The main contributors to the 2,5% increase were:

• retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (contributing 0,9 of a percentage point); and
• general dealers (contributing 0,7 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 0,6% in August 2018 compared with July 2018. This followed month-on-month changes of 1,5% in July 2018 and -1,0% in June 2018.

In the three months ended August 2018, seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 0,5% compared with the previous three months.

Retail trade sales increased by 1,9% in the three months ended August 2018 compared with the three months ended August 2017. The main contributors to this increase were:

• all 'other' retailers (6,1% and contributing 0,8 of a percentage point); and
  
• retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (3,4% and contributing 0,6 of a percentage  point).