29 June 2018
2018- n° 175In April 2018, the sales volume in overall trade fell back slightly (−0.2%) Sales volume in wholesale and retail trade - April 2018
In April 2018, the sales volume in overall trade fell back (−0.2%) after an increase in March (+0.6%). It dwindled strongly in retail trade (−1.8% after +1.7%) and more moderately in trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (−0.4% after +0.9%). It bounced back in wholesale trade after a virtual stability in March (+0.8% after −0.1%).
The commentary shows variations of subsections by decreasing contribution to the overall variation. The contribution of a subsection depends on the extent of the change and on its weight.
In April 2018, the sales volume in overall trade fell back (−0.2%) after an increase in March (+0.6%). It dwindled strongly in retail trade (−1.8% after +1.7%) and more moderately in trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (−0.4% after +0.9%). It bounced back in wholesale trade after a virtual stability in March (+0.8% after −0.1%).
The sales volume in overall trade fell back slightly over the last three months
Over the last three months, the sales volume in overall trade fell back (−0.2%) compared to the previous three months. It decreased in wholesale trade (−0.6%) and was virtually stable in retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (+0.1%). By contrast, it rose slightly in retail trade (+0.3%) – it grew in specialised stores as well as in non-specialised stores (both +0.6%), but fell back strongly in retail trade not in stores (−2.5%).
The sales volume rose by 2.6% over a year
Over the last three months, the sales volume in overall trade grew by 2.6% over a year. It increased markedly in all sectors. It rose by 1.7% in wholesale trade. It also rose sharply in retail trade (+3.1%) – it grew both in specialised stores (+2.5%) and non-specialised stores (+3.0%) and in retail trade not in stores (+7.2%). It went up substantially in trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (+5.7%).
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 | Apr/ Mar | Mar/ Feb. | q-o-q (1) | y-o-y (2) |
| G Wholesale and retail trade ; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 10000 | –0.2 | 0.6 | –0.2 | 2.6 |
| 45 Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 1272 | –0.4 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 5.7 |
| 46 Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 5777 | 0.8 | –0.1 | –0.6 | 1.7 |
| 47 Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 2952 | –1.8 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 3.1 |
| 471 Retail sale in non- specialised stores | 1109 | –3.8 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 3.0 |
| 472 to 477 Retail sale in specialised stores | 1622 | –0.8 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 2.5 |
| 478 and 479 Retail trade not in stores | 221 | 0.4 | 3.2 | –2.5 | 7.2 |
- (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
Downturn in sales volume of retail trade in April
In April 2018, the sales volume in retail trade fell back strongly (−1.8% after +1.7% in March), especially for the non-specialised stores (−3.8% after +2.5%). In specialised stores, it decreased more moderately (−0.8% after +0.9%). In particular, the sales volume decreased strongly in retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco (−6.1% after +3.3%) and in sale of cultural and recreation goods (−2.9% after +3.2%). It continued to decline in retail sale of automotive fuel (−0.6% after −0.2%), remained stable in other household equipment and increased slightly in specialised stores of other goods (clothing, shoes etc.; +0.4% after +0.5%).
According to the first early estimates, the sales volume in retail trade except of motor vehicles and motorcycles should increase in May 2018 (+0.9%). It should grow by 2.9% year on year.
Decline in trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles
In April 2018, the sales volume in trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles declined (−0.4%) after a rise of 0.9% in March. It dwindled in sale of motor vehicles (−0.6% after +1.3%) and in sale of motor vehicle parts and accessories (−0.5% after +0.3%). By contrast, it bounced back strongly in sale, maintenance and repair of motorcycles and related parts and accessories (+3.5% after −6.8%) and kept increasing in maintenance and repair of motor vehicles (+0.6% after +0.9%).
Increase in wholesale trade
In April 2018, the sales volume in wholesale trade recovered (+0.8%) after a virtual stability in March (−0.1%). It bounced back sharply in wholesale of agricultural raw materials (+6.2% after −2.7%), in wholesale of household goods (+1.8% after −0.5%) and in wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco (+1.0% after −0.3%). By contrast, it fell back for wholesalers on a fee or contract basis (−1.3% after +1.6%) as well as in non-specialised wholesale trade (−2.4% after +3.1%).
Revisions
The variation in the sales volume of overall trade in March 2018 has been revised upwards at +0.6% instead of +0.5% initially published.
tableauTable2 – Sales volume in the retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles
| Change in % | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nace Classification | Weight | Apr 2018 | Apr/ Mar | Mar/ Feb. | q-o-q (1) |
| G Wolesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 10000 | 107.8 | –0.2 | 0.6 | –0.2 |
| 45 Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and moto. | 1272 | 117.6 | –0.4 | 0.9 | 0.1 |
| 451 Sale of motor vehicles | 850 | 118.8 | –0.6 | 1.3 | 0.0 |
| 452 Maintenance and repair of motor vehicles | 89 | 112.8 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 1.4 |
| 453 Sale of motor vehicle parts and accessories | 306 | 116.6 | –0.5 | 0.3 | 0.5 |
| 454 Sale, maintenance and repair of moto. and related parts and accessories | 27 | 105.6 | 3.5 | –6.8 | –3.5 |
| 46 Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and moto. | 5777 | 105.5 | 0.8 | –0.1 | –0.6 |
| 461 Wholesale on a fee or contract basis | 813 | 106.3 | –1.3 | 1.6 | –0.1 |
| 462 Wholesale of agricultural raw materials and live animals | 390 | 96.9 | 6.2 | –2.7 | –5.5 |
| 463 Wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco | 1029 | 103.3 | 1.0 | –0.3 | 1.4 |
| 464 Wholesale of household goods | 1130 | 106.5 | 1.8 | –0.5 | –0.2 |
| 465 Wholesale of information and communication equipment | 331 | 117.4 | –0.2 | –1.5 | 0.7 |
| 466 Wholesale of other machinery, equipmt and supplies | 716 | 107.5 | 0.8 | –1.2 | –1.6 |
| 467 Other specialised wholesale | 1132 | 104.2 | 0.3 | 0.5 | –1.0 |
| 469 Non specialised wholesale trade | 236 | 104.3 | –2.4 | 3.1 | –1.0 |
| 47 Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and moto. | 2952 | 108.1 | –1.8 | 1.7 | 0.3 |
| 471 Non-specialised stores | 1109 | 105.2 | –3.8 | 2.5 | 0.6 |
| 472 to 477 Specialised stores | 1622 | 107.8 | –0.8 | 0.9 | 0.6 |
| 472 Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco | 155 | 113.4 | –6.1 | 3.3 | 1.4 |
| 473 Retail sale of automotive fuel | 224 | 98.3 | –0.6 | –0.2 | –0.4 |
| 474 Retail sale of information and communication equipmt | 65 | 116.3 | –0.2 | 1.1 | –0.3 |
| 475 Retail sale of other household equipment | 310 | 106.3 | 0.0 | 0.6 | –0.9 |
| 476 Retail sale of cultural and recreation goods | 118 | 106.5 | –2.9 | 3.2 | –1.7 |
| 477 Retail sale of other goods | 750 | 109.6 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 1.7 |
| 478 et 479 Retail trade not in stores | 221 | 125.1 | 0.4 | 3.2 | –2.5 |
- (1) Quarter-on-quarter: last three months /previous three months.
- Sources: DGFiP, INSEE
tableauTable3 – Revision of variations
| Mar/ Feb. | Feb./ Jan. | Jan./ Dec. | Q1 2018/ Q4 2017 | 2017/ 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G Overall trade | 0.09 | –0.02 | –0.01 | 0.05 | –0.02 |
| Raw series | 0.12 | –0.03 | –0.04 | 0.01 | –0.02 |
| SA-WDA parameters | –0.03 | 0.01 | 0.03 | 0.04 | 0.00 |
- How to read: in the wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, the SA-WDA variation between February and March 2018 has been revised by +0.09 points: +0.12 points are due to the raw series' revision and −0.03 points to the new calculation of the SA-WDA parameters. Sources: DGFiP, INSEE
Documentation
Sales volume index in trade (pdf,35 Ko)
La note méthodologique simplifiee_anglais (pdf,28 Ko)
Pour en savoir plus
Time series: Sales volume in wholesale and retail trade
Time series: Turnover index in wholesale and retail trade
