IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Measured in real terms (constant 2015 prices), retail trade sales increased by 0,2% year-on-year in March 2019. Positive annual growth rates were recorded for:

• retailers in household furniture, appliances and equipment (1,9%);
• general dealers (1,8%); and
• all ''other'' retailers (1,5%).

The main contributor to the 0,2% increase was general dealers (contributing 0,8 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales decreased by 0,7% in March 2019 compared with February 2019. This followed month-on-month changes of 0,6% in February 2019 and 1,6% in January 2019. In the first quarter of 2019, seasonally adjusted retail trade sales decreased by 0,7% compared with the previous quarter.

Retail trade sales increased by 1,0% in the first quarter of 2019 compared with the first quarter of 2018. The main contributors to this increase were:

• general dealers (1,5% and contributing 0,6 of a percentage point); and
• retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (1,8% and contributing 0,3 of a percentage point).