Monthly survey on retail trade 2020Aug
Published on 16 September 2020
In August, sales of industrial goods remained dynamic year-on-year, while food sales dipped slightly
Warning: the current document replaces the one published on September 15th, 2020, in which mistakes were observed.
Remark
Developments in retail sales do not reflect developments in total household consumption: the latter also includes other items such as health, education and rents.
Remark
Developments in retail sales do not reflect developments in total household consumption: the latter also includes other items such as health, education and rents.
In August, turnover in retail trade posted year-on-year growth rate of 1.3% (adjusted for seasonal and working-day variations), after 2.4% in July. Following on from the previous month, sales of industrial goods were strong, rising by 3.6% year-on-year in August, after 3.9% in July. This growth was driven by consumer electronics (up 16.6 % year-on-year), DIY (up 12.6 %) and cycles and motorcycles (up 10.2 %). Press and stationery and perfumes/personal care products and were still down year-on-year, dropping by 5.5% and 4.7% respectively. Food sales fell by 1.6% compared to August 2019.
By distribution channel, sales of small retailers grew distinctly by 4.3% year-on-year (after a 2.6% increase in July) and those of large general retailers slightly declined (-0.3 %). Sales of large general retailers are close from last year's level in the case of supermarkets (down 0.7 %) and hypermarkets (down 0.8 %). In spite of a sharp improvement from July to August, sales of department stores are still significantly below August 2019 level (down 14.8 %). Conversely, according to data observed at end-July, distance selling posted strong growth, with sales rising by 14.8%.
By distribution channel, sales of small retailers grew distinctly by 4.3% year-on-year (after a 2.6% increase in July) and those of large general retailers slightly declined (-0.3 %). Sales of large general retailers are close from last year's level in the case of supermarkets (down 0.7 %) and hypermarkets (down 0.8 %). In spite of a sharp improvement from July to August, sales of department stores are still significantly below August 2019 level (down 14.8 %). Conversely, according to data observed at end-July, distance selling posted strong growth, with sales rising by 14.8%.
Total industrial goods and food sales: year-on-year change (%)
July and August 2020, y-o-y 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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