Informations Rapides · 30 April 2021 · n° 118

In February 2021, sales volume in trade rose slightly Sales volume in wholesale and retail trade - February 2021

In February 2021, the volume of sales in trade increased slightly (+0.5% after −0.4% in January).

In February 2021, the volume of sales in retail trade recovered (+1.6% after −4,5% in January), in the context of a postponed - and extended to the entire month - winter sales period. Thus, the volume of sales bounced back sharply in retail trade not in stores (+9.7% after −6.4%). The rebound was more moderate in specialised stores (+1.7% after −5,6%), especially due to the health restrictions, including a curfew set at 6pm and the closure of some non-food shopping centres. The volume of sales kept falling in non-specialised stores (−0.8% after −2.3%). Among specialised stores, the volume of sales picked up in "other goods" (clothing, footwear, leather goods, etc.: +1.8% after −7.7%), other household equipment (furniture, appliances, hardware, etc.: +2.9% after −6.1%), and cultural and recreation goods (+2.9% after −15.0%). On the contrary, it decreased markedly in information and communication equipment (−4.7% after −0.2%).

The volume of sales in wholesale trade slowed down in February (+0.6% after +1.2% in January). It kept increasing sharply in information and communication equipment (+11.9% after +7.3%) and dwindled in wholesale on a fee or contract basis (−0.6% after +6.4%).

In February, the volume of sales fell back in trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (−2.0% after +2.9%), particularly in the sale of motor vehicles (−3.2% after +3.7%).

According to early estimates, the sales volume in retail trade except that of motor vehicles and motorcycles is expected to have decreased in March 2021 (−1.0%). In the first quarter of 2021, it should have increased by 8.8% when compared with the first quarter of 2020, with a base effect due to the start of the lockdown in March 2020.

The volume of sales of the past three months (December 2020 to February 2021) in overall trade increased by 1.8% when compared with that of the same period one year earlier. It grew in retail trade (+4.8%) and wholesale trade (+0.8%), while it fell in trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (−0.8%). Within retail trade, the volume of sales increased over a year in all the sub-sectors: in retail trade not in stores (+25.4%), in specialised stores (+2.7%), and in non-specialised stores (+2.8%).

The percentage change in the overall sales volume trade in January 2021 has been slightly revised upwards, at −0.4% instead of −0.5% initially published.