31 May 2017

2017- n° 148

In March 2017, the sales volume in overall trade grew again (+0.9%) Sales volume in wholesale and retail trade - March 2017

In March 2017, the sales volume in overall trade rose by 0.9% after an increase of 0.6% in February.

It gathered pace in wholesale trade (+1.2% after +0.7%). It bounced back in trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (+1.7% after −0.3%). By contrast, it flattened out in retail trade (+0.1% after +0.9%).

Over the first quarter of 2017, the sales volume in overall trade went up by +0.8%. It rose very markedly in the wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (+2.6%). It grew more slowly in wholesale trade (+0.4%) and in retail trade (+0.7%). The sales volume increased by 0.8% in specialised stores and by 0.4% in non-specialised stores and in retail trade not in stores.

In overall trade, the sales volume of the first quarter of 2017 increased by 2.4% compared with the first quarter of the previous year. It rose sharply in retail trade (+3.1%) – it grew in specialised stores (+3.2%) and non-specialised stores (+2.9%) as well as in retail trade not in stores (+2.4%). It went up substantially in trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (+7.1%). The sales volume in wholesale trade increased more slowly (+0.9%).

In March 2017, the sales volume in whosesale trade gathered pace (+1.2% after +0.7% in February). It bounced back markedly in wholesale of household goods (+2.0% after −1.5%). It increased more sharply than in February in wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco (+1.9% after +0.8%). It recovered strongly in wholesale of agricultural raw materials and live animals (+6.7% after −3.7%). It grew again in wholesale trade of other machinery, equipment and supplies (+1.9% after +1.1%) and in other specialised wholesale (+0.9% after +2.3%). By contrast, it fell back for wholesalers on a fee or contract basis (−1.1% after +0.5%) and even more significantly for wholesalers of information and communication equipment (−2.3% after +7.9%).

In March 2017, the sales volume in trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles rebounded (+1.7% after −0.3%). It recovered in sale of motor vehicles (+1.9%) after a stability in February. It picked up in sale of motor vehicle parts and accessories (+1.8% after −2.0%). After a near stability in February, the sales volume increased by +0.7% in maintenance and repair of motor vehicles. It fell back in sale and repair of motorcycles (−1.5% after +13.9%).

In March 2017, the sales volume in retail trade was virtually stable after an increase in February (+0.9%). In specialised stores, the sales volume grew less than in February (+0.3% after +1.2%), even though it recovered sharply in retail sale of information and communication equipment (+5.6% after −5.3%) and picked up in food, beverages and tobacco (+1.2% after −0.2%). By contrast, the sales volume fell back in retail sale of cultural and recreation goods (−1.8% after +1.8%) and decreased again in retail sale of automotive fuel (−1.1% after −0.7%). In non specialised stores, the sales volume edged down (−0.2% after +0.3%).

According to the first early estimates, the sales volume in retail trade except of motor vehicles and motorcycles should be virtually stable in April 2017, taking year-on-year growth to +2.9%.

The variation in the sales volume of overall trade in February 2017 has been revised upwards. Initially stated at +0.4%, it has been set at +0.6%