Retail turnover almost 17 percent up in February

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 February 2022 was also 16.5 percent higher than in the same month last year.

Turnover in non-food sector almost 58 percent higher

In February, turnover in the non-food sector was up by 57.7 percent year on year. The volume of sales (adjusted for price changes) grew by 50.8 percent compared to the same month last year. The substantial growth was mainly due to the fact that turnover was particularly low in February 2021, when there was a lockdown for the entire month; this severely affected the non-food sector. No lockdown was in place in February 2022. Relative to February 2020, turnover of non-food shops was up by over 10 percent in February 2022.

In February, turnover of clothes shops and shops selling footwear and leather products was significantly higher than one year previously, when these shops suffered significant turnover losses. On balance, the turnover of these shops was also higher in February 2022 than in February 2020. Other non-food shops recorded year-on-year turnover growth in February 2022 as well. They also generated more turnover than in February 2020.

Turnover of food shops almost 3 percent down

Shops selling food, beverages and tobacco achieved 2.9 percent less turnover in February 2022 than in the same month last year. The volume of sales was 7.2 percent lower. Turnover at specialist shops was up by 3.7 percent, while turnover at supermarkets was down by 3.7 percent year on year. Relative to February 2020, the food retail sector realised almost 6 percent higher turnover.

Online turnover almost 25 percent lower

In February, online turnover was down by 24.7 percent year on year. Web shops recorded a turnover decrease of 8.7 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 39.9 percent lower turnover in online sales. In February 2021, online turnover grew by almost 104 percent.

Online turnover of food and personal care products was slightly higher in February 2022 than in the same month last year. Online turnover of consumer electronics, clothing and fashion items, and other non-food products was lower than in February 2021.