28 July 2017

2017- n° 206

In May 2017, the sales volume in overall trade recovered (+1.6%) Sales volume in wholesale and retail trade - May 2017

In May 2017, the sales volume in overall trade bounced back (+1.6%) after a decrease of 1.3% in April. It recovered in wholesale trade (+1.8% after −1.5%) and in trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (+3.6% after −3.1%). It picked up slightly in retail trade (+0.5% after −0.3%).

Over the last three months, the sales volume in overall trade went up by 1.3% compared to the previous three months. It rose sharply in wholesale trade (+1.5%). It went up more moderately in retail trade (+0.9%) – it increased by 1.0% in specialised stores, by 0.6% in non-specialised stores and by 1.8% in retail trade not in stores. It rose markedly in retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (+1.3%).

Over the last three months, the sales volume in overall trade rose by 2.8% year-on-year. It rose sharply in retail trade (+3.3%) – it grew in specialised stores (+3.1%) and non-specialised stores (+3.6%) as well as in retail trade not in stores (+3.6%). It also increased in wholesale trade (+1.7%). It went up substantially in trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (+6.4%).

In May 2017, the sales volume in whosesale trade bounced back (1.8% after −1.5% in April). All sectors increased except wholesale trade of other machinery, equipment and supplies which was virtually stable. It recovered markedly in wholesale of household goods (+3.4% after −2.6%) and in other specialised wholesale (+2.3% after −2.6%). It gathered pace for wholesalers on a fee or contract basis (+1.4% after +0.6%). It bounced back in wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco (+1.3% after −0.6%) and in non specialised wholesale trade (+2.7% after −3.2%). It went up again in wholesalers of information and communication (+1.3% after +0.6%) and bounced back in wholesale of agricultural raw materials and live animals (+1.1% after −3.0%).

In May 2017, the sales volume in trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles bounced back sharply (+3.6% after −3.1%), with an increase in all sectors – sale of motor vehicles (+3.5% after −3.7%), sale of motor vehicle parts and accessories (+4.8% after −1.7%), maintenance and repair of motor vehicles (+0.7% after −2.4%) and sale and repair of motorcycles (+1.5% after −3.2%).

In May 2017, the sales volume in retail trade recovered slightly (+0.5% after −0.3% in April). Among specialised stores, it bounced back in retail trade of other goods (+1.5% after −1.2%) and in retail sale of information and communication equipment (+0.9% after −2.7%). By contrast, it fell back in retail sale of other household equipment (−0.6% after −1.5%), in retail sale of automotive fuel (−0.7% after +1.4%), in retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco (−0.6% after +0.3%) and in retail sale of cultural and recreation goods (−0.2% after +2.1%). The sales volume rose slightly again in non-specialised stores (+0.4% after +0.3%).

According to the first early estimates, the sales volume in retail trade except of motor vehicles and motorcycles should fall back in June 2017 (−0.4%). However, year on year, it should continue to rise markedly (+2.9%).

The variation in the sales volume of overall trade in April 2017 is unchanged at −1.3%.