Monthly survey on retail trade - 2025-05
Published on the 20th of June 2025
Turnover in retail trade declined slightly in May
Note: The change in retail sales does not reflect the change in total household consumption as the latter includes other items such as health care, education and rents.
In May, turnover in retail trade fell slightly (-0.3%) month-on-month (data adjusted for seasonal and working-day variations), after rising slightly in April (0.3%). Food sales and manufactured goods sales dropped by 0.7% and -0.1%, after dipping (-0.2%) and edging up (0.7%) respectively last month. Sales declined in certain manufactured goods subsectors: DIY (-3.4% after 5.9%), books (-3.3% after 1.4%) and automotive equipment (-2.1% after 0.2%). These decreases were largely offset by growth in games and toys (3.3% after -3.4%), pharmaceuticals (3.3% after +0.7%) and textiles and clothing (2.0% after -1.3%).
In terms of distribution channels, hypermarket and supermarket sales fell in May (by -2.1% and -1.8% respectively), while sales at department stores picked up (by 1.0%, after declining by 2.4%). Sales at small retailers were down (by -0.6%, after increasing by 0.1%).
Three month-on-three month, overall turnover in retail trade rose slightly (0.4%), with a positive change for manufactured goods (0.7%) and stability for food.
In terms of distribution channels, hypermarket and supermarket sales fell in May (by -2.1% and -1.8% respectively), while sales at department stores picked up (by 1.0%, after declining by 2.4%). Sales at small retailers were down (by -0.6%, after increasing by 0.1%).
Three month-on-three month, overall turnover in retail trade rose slightly (0.4%), with a positive change for manufactured goods (0.7%) and stability for food.
Total manufactured goods and food sales
Month-on-month change (%) - Seasonally and working-day adjusted volumes
Notes:.
1) Sectors are classified according to the relative weight of the products included in the total aggregate of retail trade (weights are given on the right scale).
2) The aggregated and by sub-sector series are seasonally adjusted on an individual basis. Total and manufactured products series are reconstituted by aggregating the SA-WDA series of the sub-components.
3) SA-WDA: Seasonally and working-day adjusted.
1) Sectors are classified according to the relative weight of the products included in the total aggregate of retail trade (weights are given on the right scale).
2) The aggregated and by sub-sector series are seasonally adjusted on an individual basis. Total and manufactured products series are reconstituted by aggregating the SA-WDA series of the sub-components.
3) SA-WDA: Seasonally and working-day adjusted.
Download the PDF version of the document
EN_Stat_Info_retail-trade_202505.pdf
Additional links
Breakdown by industrial product and outlet category – May 2025
Updated on the 19th of June 2025