IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Measured in real terms (constant 2015 prices), retail trade sales increased by 0,7% year-on-year in September 2018. Positive annual growth rates were recorded for:

• retailers in household furniture, appliances and equipment (10,9%);
• all 'other' retailers (4,4%);
• retailers in pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries (2,3%); and
• general dealers (0,2%).

The main contributor to the 0,7% increase was all 'other' retailers (contributing 0,6 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales decreased by 0,6% in September 2018 compared with August 2018. This followed month-on-month changes of 0,7% in August 2018 and 1,5% in July 2018. In the third quarter of 2018, seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 1,5% compared with the previous quarter.

Retail trade sales increased by 1,5% in the third quarter of 2018 compared with the third quarter of 2017. The main contributors to this increase were:

• all 'other' retailers (4,3% and contributing 0,5 of a percentage point); and
• retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (2,8% and contributing 0,5 of a percentage point).