Retail turnover 3 percent up

12/06/2008 15:00

Retail turnover was 3 percent higher in April 2008 than in April 2007. In March it was still lower than twelve months previously. Differences in the shopping day pattern account for this rather erratic course. Prices of retail products were almost 2 percent higher than the year before.

The shopping day pattern in April 2008 was more favourable than in April 2007. After an approximate correction for this positive effect, retail turnover hardly grew.

Food shops accounted for most of the increase in turnover: their turnover grew by almost 6 percent. Supermarkets had over 7 percent more turnover. Specialised shops in food, drinks and tobacco on the other hand faced a turnover loss of almost 2 percent. Price increases in the food sector were considerable. Prices of food products were more than 4 percent up on twelve months previously.

The non-food sector realised only 1 percent more turnover in April. Clothes shops and textile supermarkets faced severe losses, possibly because the weather was less warm and sunny than in April last year. Shops selling consumer electronics and those selling household articles performed well: their turnover rose by around 10 percent.