The economic situation of trade in 2007

In 2007, the household consumption driven by the trade sector channel increased by 2,7 per cent in volume term. The growth of retail sales (including bakery and delicatessen) reaches + 2,9 %, a level slightly higher than the averaged rate of the 2002-2006 period. Like usual, the more dynamic sectors are the specialized stores in nonfood goods and the pharmacies. The sales of vehicles, repairing and automotive fuel restart, but mainly thank to the vehicles sales because others sales are stationary or even decline (repairing, auto fuel or vehicles parts). The growth of the wholesale trade sales increases (+ 3,1 % in volume), except for the non-agricultural intermediate products sales that decline in volume terms. The salaried employment rises in the whole trade sectors with 44 300 additional employees (+1,5 %). The business start-ups in the trade sectors increase steadily in 2007 (+ 14,9 %).