Retail turnover over 2 percent up in April

Retail turnover data have been adjusted for changes in the shopping-day pattern. Retail sales tend to vary from one day to the next. If the shopping-day pattern is not taken into account, retail turnover in April 2019 was 4.7 percent higher than in the same month last year.

Turnover growth non-food sector almost 2 percent up

Turnover in the non-food sector was up by 1.6 percent in April year-on-year. The volume of sales (adjusted for price changes) increased by 2.0 percent.

Shops selling furniture and household articles, shops selling consumer electronics and shops selling DIY products, kitchens and flooring achieved the highest turnover growth in April. Turnover of shops selling personal care products also increased.

However turnover generated by shops selling recreational goods, clothes shops and shops selling shoes and leather products was down in April year-on-year.

Turnover food sector more or less the same

Shops selling food, beverages and tobacco achieved 0.2 percent more turnover than in April 2018. Supermarkets saw a turnover growth of almost 1 percent, while specialist shops saw their turnover decline by over 3 percent. The volume of sales by supermarkets and specialist shops declined year-on-year.

Online shops realise almost 16 percent turnover growth

In April, online shops saw their turnover go up by 15.9 percent. Web shops recorded a turnover increase of 12.8 percent; their core activity is selling goods and services over the Internet. Multi-channel retailers (retailers selling goods and services over the Internet as a side activity) achieved 20.3 percent higher turnover in online sales.