Retail sales growth decelerated a little in October

In October 2012, the retail sales of goods of retail trade enterprises were 374 million euros. The retail sales in stores selling manufactured goods increased 6% compared to October 2011. The sales increased in most economic activities. Only the retail sales in stores selling household goods and appliances, hardware and building materials were 6% smaller than in October of the previous year. The fall in the retail sales of these stores was partly influenced by the high reference base of the previous year. In October, the retail sales of other specialized stores, such as stores selling computers and their accessories, photography supplies, books, sports equipment, games and toys etc, and the retail sales of pharmaceutical goods and cosmetics increased the most. Compared to October 2011, the retail sales in these stores increased 17%.

In grocery stores, the deceleration of retail sales growth continued. While the retail sales of these stores compared to the corresponding period of the previous year increased 6% in August and 4% in September, in October the increase was 2%. The growth deceleration in the retail sales of these stores was influenced by the acceleration in the price increase of food products in October. In September the annual price increase of food products was 4.4%, whereas in October it was 6.3%.

Compared to the previous month, in October the retail sales in retail trade enterprises increased 3% at constant prices. According to the seasonally and working-day adjusted data, retail sales decreased one percent compared to the previous month. During the ten months of 2012 (January–October), the retail sales in retail trade enterprises increased 7.5% at constant prices compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.

In October the revenues from sales of retail trade enterprises were 471.6 million euros, out of which retail sales of goods accounted for about 80%. Compared to October 2011, the revenues from sales increased by 13% 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 – October 2012 (2005 =100)