Measured in real terms (constant 2015 prices), retail trade sales decreased by 0,9% year-on-year in February 2022. The largest negative annual growth rates were recorded for retailers in:

·         hardware, paint and glass (-4,9%); and

·         food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores (-4,4%).

The largest negative contributor to this decrease was general dealers (contributing -0,9 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales decreased by 0,5% in February 2022 compared with January 2022. This followed month-on-month changes of 2,3% in January 2022 and 0,9% in December 2021. In the three months ended February 2022, seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 3,6% compared with the previous three months.

Retail trade sales increased by 3,2% in the three months ended February 2022 compared with the three months ended February 2021. The largest positive contributor to this increase was retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (12,7% and contributing 2,3 percentage points).