Retail turnover marginally up

Retail turnover was nearly 1 percent up in August 2012 compared with August 2011. Retail prices were nearly 2 percent higher; the volume of retail sales was more than 1 percent down on twelve months previously.

Retail turnover is affected by the shopping-day pattern. In August, this pattern was more favourable than one year previously. After correction for this effect, retail turnover was nearly 2 percent down on one year previously and the volume of retail sales about 4 percent down.

The non-food sector faced a turnover loss of 5 percent. Home furnishing shops struggled most. Clothes shops also suffered a considerable turnover loss. Within the non-food sector, only chemist’s shops realised turnover growth. The positive effect of the shopping-day pattern on turnover generated by the non-food sector is estimated at over 2 percent.

Turnover generated by food, drinks and tobacco shops was 7 percent higher than in August 2011. After correction for the shopping-day effect, nearly 2 percent of this growth remained. Mail-order firms and online shops realised a turnover growth of more than 8 percent. Petrol stations reported over 3 percent more turnover than one year previously.

Shops in the non-food sector generated 47 percent of total retail turnover last year. Shops selling food, drinks and tobacco and petrol stations accounted for 36 and 12 percent respectively. Retailers who do not operate from shops, e.g. market traders, mail-order firms and online shops, accounted for the remaining 5 percent of retail turnover.

Retail turnover