Monthly survey on retail trade 2021May
Published on 14 June 2021
Turnover in retail trade picked up in May
Note :
The trend in retail sales does not reflect that of total household consumption: the latter includes other items such as healthcare, education and rents.
The trend in retail sales does not reflect that of total household consumption: the latter includes other items such as healthcare, education and rents.
Against the backdrop of the easing of health measures and overall shops reopening, turnover in retail sales picked up in May, rising by 8.3 % month-on-month (adjusted for seasonal and working-day variations). This rebound was driven by the 28.5 % increase in industrial goods, while food sales dropped by 3.4 %. Industrial goods sales are 14,4 % above May 2020 level, and -3,2 % below May 2019 level. Food sales kept diminishing over one year (-5.7 %) and over two years (-3.8 %).
The strongest monthly increases in sales were in footwear, perfume and hygiene, and textiles and clothing, which were up by 150.3%, 102.4% and 59.5% respectively. Conversely, moderate decreases were recorded in household appliances, optics, and DIY, where sales fell by 6.8%, 2.8% and 2.8% respectively.
In terms of distribution channels, sales of small shops rose by 4.3%, while those of large general retailers, mainly driven by supermarkets and hypermarkets, inched down by 1.2%. Within the latter, department store sales posted a remarkable 91.2% increase. Final data for distance selling are not yet available for May; however, distance selling continued to rise in April, climbing by 10.3% year-on-year, after 29.0% in March.
The strongest monthly increases in sales were in footwear, perfume and hygiene, and textiles and clothing, which were up by 150.3%, 102.4% and 59.5% respectively. Conversely, moderate decreases were recorded in household appliances, optics, and DIY, where sales fell by 6.8%, 2.8% and 2.8% respectively.
In terms of distribution channels, sales of small shops rose by 4.3%, while those of large general retailers, mainly driven by supermarkets and hypermarkets, inched down by 1.2%. Within the latter, department store sales posted a remarkable 91.2% increase. Final data for distance selling are not yet available for May; however, distance selling continued to rise in April, climbing by 10.3% year-on-year, after 29.0% in March.
Total industrial goods and food sales: M/M-1 change (%)
May and April 2021 m-o-m comparison; seasonally and working-day adjusted volume terms
Notes :
- Sectors are classified according to the relative weight of the products included in the total aggregate of retail trade (see methodology)
- The aggregated and by sub-sector series are seasonally adjusted on an individual basis: the seasonally adjusted series do not represent the sum of the seasonally adjusted components.
- Sectors are classified according to the relative weight of the products included in the total aggregate of retail trade (see methodology)
- The aggregated and by sub-sector series are seasonally adjusted on an individual basis: the seasonally adjusted series do not represent the sum of the seasonally adjusted components.
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Additional links
Breakdown by industrial product and outlet category – May 2021