In April the retail sales continued to decrease

In January the retail sales of goods decreased 12% compared to the same month of the previous year, in February 11% and in March 9%.

In April, the retail sales of goods of retail trade enterprises were 4.4 billion kroons. Compared to April 2009, the retail sales of goods decreased in most economic activities, except the retail sales of food, beverages and tobacco in specialized stores and the retail sales of pharmaceutical goods and cosmetics. The low reference base in 2009 contributed to the sales growth of the retail sales of food, beverages and tobacco in specialized stores. The sales increase in these stores does not significantly influence the retail sales of goods of retail trade enterprises, because the share of this economic activity is very small, 3% in April 2010. The decrease in retail sales of goods was most influenced by the stores selling manufactured goods, where the retail sales decreased by 11% compared to April 2009. The decrease in stores selling manufacturing goods has slowed down compared to the recent month. Retail sales have significantly recovered in stores selling household goods and appliances, hardware and building materials. In these stores the retail sales of goods decreased by a fifth during the year, at the same time in the previous months the decline amounted to nearly 30%. The decrease in other specialized stores, such as stores selling computers and their accessories, photography supplies, books, sports equipment, games and toys, slowed down to some extent if compared to the previous months. In these stores the retail sales of goods decreased 18% compared to April 2009.

The decrease in grocery stores that had slowed down in March accelerated again in April. If in January and February the retail sales of these stores decreased 6% compared to the same month of the previous year and in March 4%, then in April the decline was 7%. The high reference base of April 2009 influenced partially the acceleration of the decrease in sales of grocery stores.

Compared to the previous month, the retail sales in retail trade enterprises increased 2% at constant prices. According to the seasonally and working-day adjusted data the retail sales stayed at the same level compared to the previous month. In grocery stores the retail sales of goods decreased one percent compared to the previous month but in stores selling manufactured goods the retail sales increased one percent.

In April the revenues from sales of retail trade enterprises were 5.4 billion kroons, out of which retail sales of goods accounted for 82%. Compared to April of the previous year, the revenues from sales decreased 3% at current prices. Compared to the previous month, this indicator increased 2%.

Retail sales volume index of retail trade enterprises and its trend, January 2002 – April 2010 (2005 = 100)