Measured in real terms (constant 2019 prices), retail trade sales decreased by 1,8% year-on-year in July 2023. The largest negative contributors to this decrease were:

·         general dealers (-4,1% and contributing -1,7 percentage points); and

·         retailers in hardware, paint and glass (-6,8% and contributing -0,6 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales remained unchanged in July 2023 compared with June 2023. This followed month-on-month changes of 0,3% in June 2023 and -0,9% in May 2023.

Retail trade sales decreased by 2,2% in the three months ended July 2023 compared with the three months ended July 2022. The largest negative contributors to this decrease were:

·         general dealers (-4,7% and contributing -2,1 percentage points); and

·         retailers in hardware, paint and glass (-7,2% and contributing -0,6 of a percentage point).

Retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods was the only positive contributor (6,8% and contributing 1,1 percentage points).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales decreased by 0,9% in the three months ended July 2023 compared with the previous three months. The largest negative contributors were:

·         general dealers (-1,0% and contributing -0,4 of a percentage point); and

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