IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Measured in real terms (constant 2015 prices), retail trade sales increased by 1,3% year-on-year in March 2022. The largest positive annual growth rates were recorded for:

·         retailers in pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries (6,2%);

·         retailers in household furniture, appliances and equipment (5,5%); and

·         all ‘other’ retailers (3,5%).

The largest positive contributor to this increase was general dealers (contributing 0,9 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales decreased by 0,3% in March 2022 compared with February 2022. This followed month-on-month changes of -2,0% in February 2022 and 2,3% in January 2022. In the first quarter of 2022, seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 1,9% compared with the fourth quarter of 2021.

Retail trade sales increased by 2,5% in the first quarter of 2022 compared with the first quarter of 2021. The largest positive contributors to this increase were retailers in:

·         textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (7,2% and contributing 1,2 percentage points); and

·          food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores (14,8% and contributing 1,0 percentage point).