31 May 2018
2018- n° 145In March 2018, the sales volume in overall trade grew (+0.5%) Sales volume in wholesale and retail trade - March 2018
In March 2018, the sales volume in overall trade grew (+0.5%) after a slight increase in February (+0.2%). It grew more vigorously in retail trade (+1.4% after +1.0%) and in trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (+0.8% after +0.5%). It was virtually stable in wholesale trade after a slight decrease in February (−0.1% after −0.3%).
The commentary shows variations of subsections by decreasing contribution to the overall variation. The contribution of a subsection depends on the extent of the change and on its weight.
In March 2018, the sales volume in overall trade grew (+0.5%) after a slight increase in February (+0.2%). It grew more vigorously in retail trade (+1.4% after +1.0%) and in trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (+0.8% after +0.5%). It was virtually stable in wholesale trade after a slight decrease in February (−0.1% after −0.3%).
The sales volume in overall trade fell back slightly over the first quarter
Over the first quarter of 2018, the sales volume in overall trade fell back slightly (−0.2%). It decreased in wholesale trade (−0.6%) and in retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (−0.2%). By contrast, it rose in retail trade (+0.4%) – it grew in non-specialised stores (+1.2%) as well as in specialised stores (+0.5%), but fell back strongly in retail trade not in stores (−3.4%).
The sales volume rose by 2.5% over a year
Over the last three months, the sales volume in overall trade grew by 2.5% over a year. It increased markedly in all sectors. It rose by 1.7% in wholesale trade. It also rose sharply in retail trade (+3.1%) – it grew in specialised stores (+2.4%) and non-specialised stores (+3.3%) as well as in retail trade not in stores (+6.8%). It went up substantially in trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (+4.3%).
graphiqueGraph1 – Sales volume in wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles
- Sources: DGFiP, INSEE
tableauTable1 – Sales volume in the retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles
| Change in % | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NACE Classification | Weight | Mar/ Feb. | Feb./ Jan. | q-o-q (1) | y-o-y (2) |
| G Wholesale and retail trade ; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 10000 | 0.5 | 0.2 | –0.2 | 2.5 |
| 45 Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 1272 | 0.8 | 0.5 | –0.2 | 4.3 |
| 46 Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 5777 | –0.1 | –0.3 | –0.6 | 1.7 |
| 47 Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 2952 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 3.1 |
| 471 Retail sale in non- specialised stores | 1109 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 3.3 |
| 472 to 477 Retail sale in specialised stores | 1622 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 2.4 |
| 478 and 479 Retail trade not in stores | 221 | 1.5 | –0.1 | –3.4 | 6.8 |
- (1) Quarter-on-quarter: last three months /previous three months.
- (2) Year-on-year: last three months / same three months of the previous year.
- The codes correspond to different levels of aggregation of the classification NAF rev.2. Sources: DGFiP, INSEE
Acceleration in sales volume of retail trade in March
In March 2018, the sales volume in retail trade gathered pace slightly (+1.4% after +1.0% in February), especially for the non-specialised stores (+2.4% after +1.1%). In specialised stores, it increased more moderately than in February (+0.8% after +1.1%) despite an acceleration in retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco (+2.7% after +1.0%) and a strong rebound in sale of cultural and recreation goods (+3.2% after −0.9%) and other household equipment (+0.6% after −1.3%). By contrast, the sales volume slowed sharply in specialised stores of other goods (clothing, shoes etc.; +0.2% after +2.5%) and flattened out in retail sale of automotive fuel (−0.1% after +2.1%).
According to the first early estimates, the sales volume in retail trade except of motor vehicles and motorcycles should decrease in April 2018 (−1.1%). It should grow by 3.2% year on year.
Further increase in trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles
In March 2018, the sales volume in trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles rose again (+0.8% after +0.5% in February). It increased by 1.2% in sale of motor vehicles after a virtual stability in February. It rose more moderately in sale of motor vehicle parts and accessories (+0.5% after +1.8%). It fell back strongly in sale, maintenance and repair of motorcycles and related parts and accessories (−7.0% after +0.1%). It flattened out in maintenance and repair of motor vehicles.
Virtual stability in wholesale trade
In March 2018, the sales volume in wholesale trade was virtually stable after a decline of 0.3% in February. It bounced back sharply for wholesalers on a fee or contract basis (+1.9% after −1.5%) as well as in non specialised wholesale trade (+3.7% after −2.0%). It decreased again in wholesale of other machinery, equipment and supplies (−1.3% after −0.5%) and fell back in wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco (−0.8% after +0.5%).
Revisions
The variation in the sales volume of overall trade in February 2018 has been revised upwards at +0.2% instead of +0.1% initially published.
tableauTable2 – Sales volume in the retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles
| Change in % | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nace Classification | Weight | Mar 2018 | Mar/ Feb. | Feb./ Jan. | q-o-q (1) |
| G Wolesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 10000 | 108.0 | 0.5 | 0.2 | –0.2 |
| 45 Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and moto. | 1272 | 117.9 | 0.8 | 0.5 | –0.2 |
| 451 Sale of motor vehicles | 850 | 119.4 | 1.2 | 0.1 | –0.3 |
| 452 Maintenance and repair of motor vehicles | 89 | 110.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.7 |
| 453 Sale of motor vehicle parts and accessories | 306 | 117.4 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 0.1 |
| 454 Sale, maintenance and repair of moto. and related parts and accessories | 27 | 101.8 | –7.0 | 0.1 | –2.5 |
| 46 Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and moto. | 5777 | 104.7 | –0.1 | –0.3 | –0.6 |
| 461 Wholesale on a fee or contract basis | 813 | 108.2 | 1.9 | –1.5 | 1.5 |
| 462 Wholesale of agricultural raw materials and live animals | 390 | 91.0 | –1.5 | –5.0 | –5.9 |
| 463 Wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco | 1029 | 102.7 | –0.8 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| 464 Wholesale of household goods | 1130 | 105.0 | –0.2 | –0.5 | 0.0 |
| 465 Wholesale of information and communication equipment | 331 | 118.1 | –1.2 | 2.0 | 1.5 |
| 466 Wholesale of other machinery, equipmt and supplies | 716 | 106.5 | –1.3 | –0.5 | –1.2 |
| 467 Other specialised wholesale | 1132 | 103.0 | –0.2 | 1.1 | –2.5 |
| 469 Non specialised wholesale trade | 236 | 107.5 | 3.7 | –2.0 | 0.9 |
| 47 Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and moto. | 2952 | 110.0 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.4 |
| 471 Non-specialised stores | 1109 | 109.4 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 1.2 |
| 472 to 477 Specialised stores | 1622 | 108.5 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 0.5 |
| 472 Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco | 155 | 120.5 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 2.4 |
| 473 Retail sale of automotive fuel | 224 | 99.1 | –0.1 | 2.1 | –1.0 |
| 474 Retail sale of information and communication equipmt | 65 | 117.9 | 2.1 | –2.4 | 2.3 |
| 475 Retail sale of other household equipment | 310 | 106.5 | 0.6 | –1.3 | 0.3 |
| 476 Retail sale of cultural and recreation goods | 118 | 109.7 | 3.2 | –0.9 | –1.2 |
| 477 Retail sale of other goods | 750 | 108.7 | 0.2 | 2.5 | 0.7 |
| 478 et 479 Retail trade not in stores | 221 | 124.1 | 1.5 | –0.1 | –3.4 |
- (1) Quarter-on-quarter: last three months /previous three months.
- Sources: DGFiP, INSEE
tableauTable3 – Revision of variations
| Feb./ Jan. | Jan./ Dec. | Dec./ Nov. | Q4 2017/ Q3 2017 | 2017/ 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G Overall trade | 0.08 | –0.10 | –0.05 | 0.03 | 0.00 |
| Raw series | 0.06 | –0.01 | –0.03 | –0.01 | 0.00 |
| SA-WDA parameters | 0.02 | –0.09 | –0.02 | 0.04 | 0.00 |
- How to read: in the wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, the SA-WDA variation between January and February 2018 is revised by +0.08 points: +0.06 points are due to the raw series' revision and +0.02 points to the new calculation of the SA-WDA parameters. Sources: DGFiP, INSEE
Documentation
Sales volume index in trade (pdf,35 Ko)
La note méthodologique simplifiee_anglais (pdf,28 Ko)
Pour en savoir plus
Time series: Sales volume in wholesale and retail trade
Time series: Turnover index in wholesale and retail trade
