22 December 2016

2016- n° 341

In October 2016, the sales volume accelerated in retail trade but declined in accommodation and food services activities Sales volume in the retail trade and personal services - October 2016

In October 2016, the sales volume accelerated in retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles (+1.4% after +0.3%). On the other hand, it shrank in accommodation and food service activities (−0.8% after +0.4% in September). It recovered in household services (+0.9% after −0.8%) and remained virtually stable in trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (+0.1%).

In October 2016, the sales volume in retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles accelerated after a slight increase in September (+1.4% after +0.3%). According to early estimates, it should be virtually stable in November (−0.1%).

The rise in October was due to specialised stores (+2.4%): the retail sale of other goods in specialised stores (clothes, fuels, etc..) accelerated considerably (+3.2% after +0.2%) while the retail sale of other household equipment recovered significantly (+1.9%

after −0.5%) and the retail sale of information and communication equipment went on increasing strongly (+3.7% after +3.3%). In non-specialised stores, the sales volume was virtually stable.

The sales volume in retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles increased over the last three months (+0.7%, q-o-q) and year on year (+2.1% y-o-y).

The sales volume in trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles was almost stable again in October (+0.1% as in September). In particular, it remained sluggish in sale of motor vehicles (+0.1% after +0.2%) but it recovered slightly in sale of motor vehicle parts and accessories (+0.3% after −0.5%).

The sales volume of the whole sector grew substantially over the last three months (+2.0%, q-o-q) and year-on-year (+5.5% y-o-y).

In October, the sales volume fell back in accommodation and food service activities (−0.8% after +0.4% in September). This decrease came from the sharp decline in accommodation (−3.3% after +1.4% in September) whereas the sale volume remained virtually stable in food and beverage service activities (−0.1% after +0.1%). Within food and beverage service activities, the decline in restaurants and fast food activities (−0.5% after +0.6%) was practically offset by the rebound in event catering and other food services (+2.0% after −1.3%).

The sales volume of the whole sector improved over the last three months (+1.3% q-o-q) and year on year (+2.8% y-o-y).

In October, the sales volume in household services recovered (+0.9% after −0.8% in September). This increase was mainly owed to the strong bounce-back in repair of computers (+5.1% after −2.9%) and in sports activities and amusement. (+5.2% after −0.5%). However, the sales volume fell in creative, arts and entertainment activities (−8.1% after −2.2%) and in gambling and betting activities (−1.3% after +3.2%).

The sales volume in household services was virtually stable over the last three months (+0.1% q-o-q) and increased year on year (+3.6% y-o-y).

The variation in the sales volume for September 2016 has been raised by 0.1 points in retail trade, except of motor vehicles and lowered by 0.3 points in household services. It is unchanged in the other sectors.

In November 2016, the turnover in large-scale food retailing was practically stable (−0.1% after −0.5% in October). Sales of food products levelled off after a 2.3 percent decline in October while those of non food-products fell back (−1.5% after +0.5%). The sales of automotive fuel went on increasing (+1.5% after +3.1% in October).