23 February 2018
2018- n° 49In December 2017, the sales volume in overall trade fell back slightly (−0.4%) Sales volume in wholesale and retail trade - December 2017
In December 2017, the sales volume in overall trade fell back slightly (−0.4%) after an increase in November (+1.3%). It shrank sharply in retail trade (−1.2% after +3.3%) and more moderately in wholesale trade (−0.5% after +0.5%). By contrast, it gathered pace in trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (+2.2%) after a near stability in November.
In accordance with European directives, the index of sales volume in overall trade and the associated turnover indicators will use 2015 as base year from the publication of the index of January 2018, due on March 30, 2018.
In December 2017, the sales volume in overall trade fell back slightly (−0.4%) after an increase in November (+1.3%). It shrank sharply in retail trade (−1.2% after +3.3%) and more moderately in wholesale trade (−0.5% after +0.5%). By contrast, it gathered pace in trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (+2.2%) after a near stability in November.
The sales volume in overall trade rose by 0.5% over the last three months
Over the last three months (October to December), the sales volume in overall trade increased by 0.5% compared to the previous three months. It rose in retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (+2.7%) and in retail trade (+0.6%) – it increased in specialised stores (+0.5%), in non-specialised stores (+0.7%). and more strongly in retail trade not in stores (+1.4%). By contrast, it went down in wholesale trade (−0.2%).
The sales volume rose by 4.0% over a year
Over the last three months, the sales volume in overall trade grew by 4.0% over a year. It increased markedly in all sectors. It rose by 3.3% in wholesale trade. It also rose sharply in retail trade (+3.7%) – it grew in specialised stores (+3.4%) and non-specialised stores (+2.7%) as well as in retail trade not in stores (+11.9%). It went up substantially in trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (+7.8%).
graphiqueGraph1 – Sales volume in wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles

- Sources: DGFiP, INSEE
tableauTable1 – Sales volume in the retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles
Change in % | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
NACE Classification | Weight | Dec./ Nov. | Nov./ Oct. | q-o-q (1) | y-o-y (2) |
G Wholesale and retail trade ; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 10000 | –0.4 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 4.0 |
45 Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 1248 | 2.2 | 0.1 | 2.7 | 7.8 |
46 Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 5748 | –0.5 | 0.5 | –0.2 | 3.3 |
47 Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 3004 | –1.2 | 3.3 | 0.6 | 3.7 |
471 Retail sale in non- specialised stores | 1112 | –0.3 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 2.7 |
472 to 477 Retail sale in specialised stores | 1718 | –1.8 | 3.9 | 0.5 | 3.4 |
478 and 479 Retail trade not in stores | 174 | –0.8 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 11.9 |
- (1) Quarter-on-quarter: last three months /previous three months.
- (2) Year-on-year: last three months / same three months of the previous year.
- The codes correspond to different levels of aggregation of the classification NAF rev.2
- Sources: DGFiP, INSEE
Sharp downturn in sales volume of retail trade
In December 2017, the sales volume in retail trade fell back sharply (−1.2% after +3.3% in November), especially for the specialised stores (−1.8% after +3.9%). In particular, the sales volume went down in specialised stores of other goods (clothing, shoes etc.; −1.6% after +3.9% in November), in retail of other household equipment (−4.0% after +5.6%) and in retail of food, beverages and tobacco (−2.0% after +1.4%). In non-specialised stores, the sales volume decreased slightly (−0.3% after +2.5%).
According to the first early estimates, the sales volume in retail trade except of motor vehicles and motorcycles should increase in January 2018 (+0.5%). It should grow by 4.7% year-on-year.
Slight decline in wholesale trade
In December 2017, the sales volume in whosesale trade decreased slightly (−0.5% after +0.5% in November). It kept declining in wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco (−2.3% after −1.5%). It fell back strongly in wholesale of agricultural raw materials and live animals (−6.2% after +3.6%) and in wholesale on a fee or contract basis (−2.0% after +1.1%). By contrast, the sales volume gathered pace in non specialised wholesale trade (+6.6% after +1.0%).
Acceleration in trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles
In December 2017, the sales volume in trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles gathered pace (+2.2% after a virtual stability in November). It bounced back in sale of motor vehicle (+2.5% after −0.3%). It kept increasing in sale of motor vehicle parts and accessories (+1.8% after +1.2%) and it bounced back in maintenance and repair of motor vehicles (+1.1% after −0.1%). By contrast, the sales volume dwindled in sale and repair of motorcycles (−1.2% after +0.5%).
Revisions
The variation in the sales volume of overall trade in November 2017 is unchanged at +1.3% (rounded number) compared to the previous release.
tableauTable2 – Sales volume in the retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles
Change in % | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nace Classification | Weight | Dec. 2017 | Dec./ Nov. | Nov./ Oct. | q-o-q (1) |
G Wolesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 10000 | 116.7 | –0.4 | 1.3 | 0.5 |
45 Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and moto. | 1248 | 127.1 | 2.2 | 0.1 | 2.7 |
451 Sale of motor vehicles | 837 | 122.4 | 2.5 | –0.3 | 2.3 |
452 Maintenance and repair of motor vehicles | 97 | 112.1 | 1.1 | –0.1 | 2.3 |
453 Sale of motor vehicle parts and accessories | 283 | 149.7 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 3.8 |
454 Sale, maintenance and repair of moto. and related parts and accessories | 31 | 95.3 | –1.2 | 0.5 | 1.5 |
46 Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and moto. | 5748 | 110.5 | –0.5 | 0.5 | –0.2 |
461 Wholesale on a fee or contract basis | 869 | 118.4 | –2.0 | 1.1 | –1.8 |
462 Wholesale of agricultural raw materials and live animals | 319 | 100.8 | –6.2 | 3.6 | 4.8 |
463 Wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco | 992 | 102.9 | –2.3 | –1.5 | –2.2 |
464 Wholesale of household goods | 1196 | 116.9 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.1 |
465 Wholesale of information and communication equipment | 349 | 126.9 | 2.1 | 0.1 | –1.0 |
466 Wholesale of other machinery, equipmt and supplies | 721 | 114.2 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.2 |
467 Other specialised wholesale | 1138 | 96.4 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 1.3 |
469 Non specialised wholesale trade | 164 | 131.9 | 6.6 | 1.0 | 1.4 |
47 Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and moto. | 3004 | 124.4 | –1.2 | 3.3 | 0.6 |
471 Non-specialised stores | 1112 | 116.0 | –0.3 | 2.5 | 0.7 |
472 to 477 Specialised stores | 1718 | 127.0 | –1.8 | 3.9 | 0.5 |
472 Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco | 144 | 141.6 | –2.0 | 1.4 | 3.2 |
473 Retail sale of automotive fuel | 231 | 97.3 | 0.8 | 3.2 | –1.2 |
474 Retail sale of information and communication equipmt | 84 | 195.5 | –0.9 | 3.5 | 0.1 |
475 Retail sale of other household equipment | 338 | 108.0 | –4.0 | 5.6 | 1.0 |
476 Retail sale of cultural and recreation goods | 143 | 114.0 | –2.0 | 5.4 | 0.7 |
477 Retail sale of other goods | 778 | 136.3 | –1.6 | 3.9 | 0.3 |
478 et 479 Retail trade not in stores | 174 | 152.3 | –0.8 | 1.7 | 1.4 |
- (1) Quarter-on-quarter: last three months /previous three months.
- Sources: DGFiP, INSEE
tableauTable3 – Revision of variations
Nov./ Oct. | Oct./ Sept. | Sept./Aug. | Q3 2017/ Q2 2017 | 2016/2015 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
G Overall trade | 0.09 | –0.08 | 0.02 | 0.03 | –0.01 |
Raw series | –0.01 | –0.06 | 0.03 | 0.00 | –0.01 |
SA-WDA parameters | 0.10 | –0.02 | –0.01 | 0.03 | 0.00 |
- How to read : in the wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, the SA-WDA variation between October and November is revised upwards by 0.09 points, –0.01 points due to the revision of raw data, 0.10 points to to the update of SA-WDA parameters. Sources: DGFiP, INSEE