IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Measured in real terms (constant 2015 prices), retail trade sales decreased by 1,4% year-on-year in December 2018. Five of the seven types of retailer reported negative growth rates over this period. The largest negative contributions were recorded for retailers in:

• textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (-2,7% and contributing -0,6 of a percentage point); and
• general dealers (-1,0% and contributing -0,4 of a percentage point).

In 2018, retail trade sales increased by 2,1% compared with 2017. The main contributors to this increase were:

• all 'other' retailers (7,6% and contributing 0,9 of a percentage point); and
• retailers in household furniture, appliances and equipment (10,6% and contributing 0,5 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales decreased by 4,8% in December 2018 compared with November 2018. This followed month-on-month changes of 2,8% in November 2018 and 0,8% in October 2018. In the fourth quarter of 2018, seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 0,8% compared with the previous quarter.

Retail trade sales increased by 1,0% in the fourth quarter of 2018 compared with the fourth quarter of 2017. The main contributors to this increase were:

• all 'other' retailers (3,3% and contributing 0,4 of a percentage point); and
• retailers in household furniture, appliances and equipment (8,0% and contributing 0,4 of a percentage point).