Monthly survey on retail trade 2021Feb
Published on 16 March 2021
In February, turnover in retail trade was stable
Disclaimer :
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.
February was marked by various health measures affecting retailers: a curfew set at 6 pm, closure of non-food shopping centers of more than 20,000 m² from 31 January, a new health protocol for shops, introduction of additional measures in the Alpes-Maritimes department and in the Dunkirk agglomeration. Nevertheless retail sales were almost stable when comparing to January (+0.2 %, data adjusted for seasonal and working day variations), as industrial goods sales increase (+1.7 %) compensated for food sales decrease (-1.0 %). Turnover in retail trade decreased by 3.5% year-on-year, after inching down by 1.0% in January. Decreases were recorded both in food sales (down 5.0% year-on-year, compared to a high February 2020) and in industrial goods sales (down 2.4%). The largest falls were recorded in perfumery, new automobiles and books, where sales dropped by 17.8%, 13.5% and 11.9% respectively. Conversely, sales of household equipment posted strong growth, in particular sales of furniture (up 17.2%), household appliances (up 13.5%) and consumer electronics (up 11.6%).
By distribution channel, sales of small retailers were almost stable (down 0.2% year-on-year) while those of large general retailers declined by 4.0%. For February, the final data for distance selling are not yet available; for January 2021, it grew strongly by 21.6% year-on-year (after 41.8% in December 2020).
By distribution channel, sales of small retailers were almost stable (down 0.2% year-on-year) while those of large general retailers declined by 4.0%. For February, the final data for distance selling are not yet available; for January 2021, it grew strongly by 21.6% year-on-year (after 41.8% in December 2020).
Total industrial goods and food sales: year-on-year change (%)
February and January 2021 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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