IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Measured in real terms (constant 2019 prices), retail trade sales decreased by 0,6% year-on-year in December 2022. The largest negative contributors to this decrease were retailers in:

·          pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries (-5,2% and contributing -0,3 of a percentage point); and

·         hardware, paint and glass (-3,9% and contributing -0,3 of a percentage point).

In 2022, retail trade sales increased by 1,7% compared with 2021. Five of the seven types of retailer showed positive year-on-year growth rates over this period. The main contributor was retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (6,8% and contributing 1,1 percentage points).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales decreased by 0,6% in December 2022 compared with November 2022. This followed month-on-month changes of 1,0% in November 2022 and 0,2% in October 2022.

Retail trade sales decreased by 0,2% in the fourth quarter of 2022 compared with the fourth quarter of 2021. The largest negative contributors to this decrease were retailers in:

·          hardware, paint and glass (-5,2% and contributing -0,4 of a percentage point);

·          pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries (-4,7% and contributing -0,3 of a percentage point); and

·          food, beverages and tobacco products in specialised stores (-2,4% and contributing -0,2 of a percentage point).

The largest positive contributor was retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (4,3% and contributing 0,8 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 0,3% in the fourth quarter of 2022 compared with the third quarter of 2022. The largest contributor to this increase was retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (3,0% and contributing 0,5 of a percentage point).