Measured in real terms (constant 2019 prices), retail trade sales decreased by 0,6% year-on-year in September 2022. The largest negative annual growth rates were recorded for retailers in:

·         food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores (-8,1%);

·         hardware, paint and glass (-8,0%); and

·         pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries (-4,9%).

The largest negative contributors to this decrease were retailers in:

·         hardware, paint and glass (contributing -0,8 of a percentage point); and

·         food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores (contributing -0,7 of a percentage point).

The largest positive contributor was general dealers (contributing 0,8 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 0,1% in September 2022 compared with August 2022. This followed month-on-month changes of -1,3% in August 2022 and -0,2% in July 2022. In the third quarter of 2022, seasonally adjusted retail trade sales decreased by 1,9% compared with the second quarter of 2022.

Retail trade sales increased by 3,3% in the third quarter of 2022 compared with the third quarter of 2021. The largest positive contributors to this increase were:

·          general dealers (5,3% and contributing 2,3 percentage points); and

·          retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (8,0% and contributing 1,2 percentage points).