Retail turnover almost 5 percent higher in May

Retail turnover data have been adjusted for the shopping-day pattern in May. Retail sales tend to vary from one day to the next. If the shopping-day pattern is not taken into account, retail turnover in May 2023 was 6.3 percent higher than in the same month last year.

Turnover in non-food sector over 1 percent up

In May, turnover in the non-food sector grew by 1.2 percent year on year. The volume of sales (turnover adjusted for price changes) decreased by 7.5 percent compared to the same month last year.

Shops selling personal care products, shops selling recreational goods, shops selling furniture and home furnishings, shops selling consumer electronics and white goods and those selling footwear and leather products saw year-on-year turnover growth in May. On the other hand, clothes shops and shops selling DIY products, including kitchens and flooring, recorded a decrease in May.

Turnover of food shops over 8 percent up

Shops selling food, beverages and tobacco achieved 8.4 percent higher turnover in May than in the same month last year. The volume of sales, however, was 4.2 percent lower. Turnover at supermarkets and specialist shops was up by 9.1 and 3.2 percent, respectively.

Online turnover almost 5 percent higher

In May, online turnover was up by 4.8 percent year on year. Web shops recorded a turnover increase of 5.3 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 4.1 percent higher turnover in online sales.

Online turnover of food and personal care products, consumer electronics and other non-food products was higher in May 2023 than in May 2022. Online turnover of clothing and fashion items was lower.