24 July 2020

2020- n° 188

In May 2020, sales volume in overall trade bounced back Sales volume in wholesale and retail trade - May 2020

In May 2020, the sales volume in overall trade bounced back (+35.2% after −19.9% in April) and got closer to its level before the containment (−11.5% compared to February).

In May, the sales volume recovered strongly in wholesale trade (+20.6% after −15.5% in April) and in retail trade (+38.6% after −18.8% in April). In retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, the evolution was particularly strong (+193.9% after −53.5% in April), due to a very low level of activity in April. However, the level of activity remained lower than the level before the containment (−26.2% compared to February).

Over the last three months (March to May), the sales volume in overall trade declined sharply (−21.7%) compared to the previous three months. It decreased in all sectors: in wholesale trade (−17.1%), in retail trade and in repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (−50.2%) and retail trade (−17.5%). Within retail trade, the sales volume fell in specialised stores (−29.6%) and declined less strongly in non-specialised stores (−3.5%) and in retail trade not in stores (−1.2%).

The sales volume in overall trade declined strongly by 21.1% over a year. It decreased in all sectors: in wholesale trade (−16.6%), in trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (−49.9%) and in retail trade (−16.4%). Within retail trade, it slumped in specialised stores (−28.8%) whereas it declined more moderately in non-specialised stores (−1.9%) and in retail trade not in stores (−0.8%).

In May, the sales volume in wholesale trade bounced back strongly (+20.6% after −15.5% in April) and got closer to its level before the containment (−11.4% compared to February). It bounced back in almost all subsections: in household goods (+35.6% after −27.3%), in other specialised wholesale (+27.4% after −18.1%) and in machinery, equipment and supplies (+41.1% after −22.0%). The sales volume accelerated in information and communication equipment (+9.7% after +1.8%). By contrast, it fell back in agricultural, raw materials and live animals (−1.3% after +1.2% in April), considering that this sector had been one of the least affected by the containment (“only” −5.6% compared to February).

In retail trade, the sales volume bounced back strongly (+38.6% after −18.8%) and got closer to its level before the containment (−5.2% compared to February). In specialised stores where sales had suffered strongly from containment measures, the sales volume bounced back sharply (+76.0% after −29.9%), but still remained below the level of February (−10.4%). Within this sector, the sales volume in automotive fuel was far from its usual level (−34.4% compared to February), despite a huge rebound (+72.3% after −47.3% in April). In non-specialised stores, the sales volume recovered (+11.3% after −10.5%) and came back to an almost normal level (−1.8% compared to February). Last, it bounced back strongly in retail trade not in stores (+23.0% after −2.9%) and went above its level before the containment (+12.2% compared to February).

In trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, the evolution was particularly strong (+193.9% after −53.5%), especially with the rebound in sale of motor vehicles, but the activity was far from its level before the containment (−26.2%).

According to the first early estimates, the sales volume in retail trade except of motor vehicles and motorcycles should increase in June (+9.3%). However, from April to June, it should decrease by 10.1% compared to the same period one year earlier.

The variation in the sales volume of overall trade in April 2020 has been revised slightly upwards, at −19.9% instead of −20.1% initially published.