Retail turnover almost 10 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 2021 was 10.2 percent higher than in the same month last year.

Turnover in non-food sector over 12 percent higher

In April, turnover in the non-food sector was up by 12.4 percent year-on-year. The volume of sales (adjusted for price changes) grew by 9.5 percent compared to the same month last year. The growth in the non-food sector is mainly due to the fact that turnover was at a low level in April 2020, the second month in which measures against the spread of coronavirus were in force. On balance, the non-food sector in particular was heavily affected by these measures. Relative to April 2019, in April 2021 the turnover of non-food shops was down by almost 5 percent.

Just as in the previous month, in April clothes shops and shops selling footwear and leather products realised higher turnover year-on-year. However, in April last year they suffered unprecedented turnover losses, similar to March 2020. The growth in April 2021 did not make up for the loss in April 2020. Turnover of shops selling clothes and shoes was still significantly lower in April 2021 than in April 2019.

Shops selling recreational goods, shops selling furniture and home furnishings and shops selling personal care products also recorded year-on-year turnover growth in April 2021; they achieved growth relative to April 2019 as well.

Shops selling consumer electronics and white goods, and shops selling DIY products, kitchens and flooring faced losses in April 2021, against substantial turnover growth in April last year. Relative to April 2019, these shops did record an increase.

Almost 3 percent higher turnover for food shops

Shops selling food, beverages and tobacco achieved 2.7 percent more turnover in April 2021 than in April 2020. The volume of sales increased by 3.5 percent. Turnover at supermarkets was 2.5 percent up year-on-year while turnover at specialist shops grew by 4.5 percent. Relative to April 2019, the food retail sector realised 8.8 percent higher turnover.

Online turnover almost 19 percent higher

In April 2021, online shops recorded 18.6 percent more turnover than in the same month last year. Webshops recorded a turnover increase of 17.8 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 19.4 percent higher turnover in online sales.