IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Measured in real terms (constant 2015 prices), retail trade sales increased by 2,4% year-on-year in April 2019. The largest annual growth rates were recorded for retailers in:

• textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (6,4%);
• pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries (5,3%); and
• household furniture, appliances and equipment (4,6%).

The main contributors to the 2,4% increase were:

• retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (contributing 1,2 percentage points);
• general dealers (contributing 0,5 of a percentage point); and
• retailers in pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries (contributing 0,4 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 0,8% in April 2019 compared with March 2019. This followed month-on-month changes of -0,7% in March 2019 and 0,6% in February 2019. In the three months ended April 2019, seasonally adjusted retail trade sales decreased by 0,3% compared with the previous three months.

Retail trade sales increased by 1,3% in the three months ended April 2019 compared with the three months ended April 2018. The main contributors to this increase were:

• general dealers (1,4% and contributing 0,6 of a percentage point); and
• retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (3,6% and contributing 0,6 of a percentage point).