IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

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

• retailers in household furniture, appliances and equipment (10,1%);
• all 'other' retailers (6,2%);
• retailers in pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries (4,2%); and
• retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (3,4%).

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

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

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 0,6% in October 2018 compared with September 2018. This followed month-on-month changes of -0,7% in September 2018 and 0,7% in August 2018. In the three months ended October 2018, seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 1,0% compared with the previous three months.

Retail trade sales increased by 1,8% in the three months ended October 2018 compared with the three months ended October 2017. The main contributors to this increase were:

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