Marginal growth retail turnover

Retail turnover was 1.5 percent higher in March 2011 than in March 2010. The growth is entirely caused by price rises; prices were 2 percent up on twelve months previously. The volume of sales was nearly 1 percent down.

The shopping-day pattern was more favourable in March 2011 than in March 2010. After a rough correction for this effect, the value of retail turnover hardly changed.

Shops in the sector food, drinks and tobacco generated over 3 percent higher turnover, entirely due to higher supermarket sales. For specialised shops in the food sector, sales were below the level of twelve months previously.

Shops in the non-food sector were 1 percent down, but the various branches within the non-food sector showed a mixed picture. DIY shops, mail-order firms and online shops generated growth, whereas home furnishing shops, clothes shops, textile supermarkets and consumer electronics shops grappled with declining sales.

Petrol stations generated 8 percent more turnover than one year previously. The turnover increase was caused by higher motor fuel prices.

Retail turnover

More figures can be found in dossier Business cycle.