Retail turnover almost 6 percent higher in August

Retail turnover data have been adjusted for the shopping-day pattern in August. Retail sales tend to vary from one day to the next. If the shopping-day pattern is not taken into account, retail turnover in August 2023 was 6.8 percent higher than in the same month last year.

Turnover in non-food sector over 4 percent up

In August, turnover in the non-food sector grew by 4.3 percent year on year. The volume of sales (turnover adjusted for price changes) decreased by 2.5 percent compared to the same month last year.

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

Turnover of food shops over 6 percent up

Shops selling food, beverages and tobacco achieved 6.3 percent higher turnover in August than in the same month last year. The volume of sales, however, was 3.2 percent lower. Turnover at supermarkets and specialist shops was up by 6.7 and 3.0 percent, respectively.

Online turnover 3.6 percent higher

In August, online turnover was up by 3.6 percent year on year. Web shops recorded a turnover increase of 4.2 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 2.6 percent higher turnover in online sales.

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