The decrease in retail sales has stabilized

During the two last summer months the decrease in retail sales stabilized. If in June the retail sales decreased 6% compared to the same month of the previous year, then in July and August the decline was 1%.

In August, the retail sales of goods of retail trade enterprises were 4.8 billion kroons (309 million euros). The decrease in stores selling manufactured goods slowed down compared to the previous months, the decrease was 1% compared to August 2009. 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 8% during the year, which was one of the smallest decreases over the last two years. Compared to August of the previous year, the retail sales of goods increased in the retail sales in non-specialized stores with industrial goods predominating (18%), the retail sales of pharmaceutical goods and cosmetics (9%), the retail sales in stores selling textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (7%) and the retail sales of second-hand goods in stores (7%).

The retail sales in grocery stores, which recovered remarkably in July, slowed down slightly in August. If in July the retail sales of these stores increased 1%, then in August the retail sales of these stores stayed at the same level compared to the same month a year ago.

Compared to the previous month, the retail sales in retail trade enterprises decreased by 3% at constant prices. According to the seasonally and working-day adjusted data the retail sales decreased by 1%.

In August the revenues from sales of retail trade enterprises were about 6 billion kroons (383 million euros), out of which retail sales of goods accounted for 81%. Compared to August of the previous year, the revenues from sales increased 6% at current prices. Compared to the previous month, this indicator decreased 2%.

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