Informations rapides
30 November 2018
2018- n° 317
In September 2018, the sales volume in overall trade fell back sharply (−2.1%) Sales volume in wholesale and retail trade - September 2018

In September 2018, the sales volume in overall trade fell back sharply (−2.1%) after an increase in August (+1.8%). It decreased markedly in all sectors. It dwindled strongly in wholesale trade (−2.5% after +1.9%) and in retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (−2.7% after +2.2%), and more slightly in retail trade (−1.1% after +1.4%).

Informations rapides
No 317
Paru le :Paru le30/11/2018
Prochaine parution le : 26/09/2024 at 08:45 - July 2024

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 September 2018, the sales volume in overall trade fell back sharply (−2.1%) after an increase in August (+1.8%). It decreased markedly in all sectors. It dwindled strongly in wholesale trade (−2.5% after +1.9%) and in retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (−2.7% after +2.2%), and more slightly in retail trade (−1.1% after +1.4%).

The sales volume in overall trade decreased over the third quarter

Over the third quarter, the sales volume in overall trade decreased by 0.4% compared to the second quarter. It decreased in wholesale trade (−0.9%) and in retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (−0.3%). By contrast, it rose in retail trade (+0.7%) – it grew in non-specialised stores (+1.1%), in specialised stores (+0.2%), and in retail trade not in stores (+1.7%).

The sales volume rose by 1.3% over a year

The sales volume in overall trade grew by 1.3% over a year. It rose in retail trade (+2.5%) – it grew in non-specialised stores (+3.8%), in specialised stores (+1.4%) and in retail trade not in stores (+3.5%). It also went up strongly in trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (+2.8%) and rose slightly in wholesale trade (+0.3%).

Graph1Sales volume in wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles

  • Sources: DGFiP, INSEE

Table1Sales volume in the retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles

SA-WDA volume, Base year 2015
Sales volume in the retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (SA-WDA volume, Base year 2015) -
Change in %
NACE Classification Weight Sept./ Aug. Aug./ July q-o-q (1) y-o-y (2)
G Wholesale and retail trade ; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles 10000 –2.1 1.8 –0.4 1.3
45 Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles 1272 –2.7 2.2 –0.3 2.8
46 Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles 5777 –2.5 1.9 –0.9 0.3
47 Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles 2952 –1.1 1.4 0.7 2.5
471 Retail sale in non- specialised stores 1109 –1.3 1.0 1.1 3.8
472 to 477 Retail sale in specialised stores 1622 –1.3 1.6 0.2 1.4
478 and 479 Retail trade not in stores 221 0.4 1.8 1.7 3.5
  • (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 wholesale trade

In September 2018, the sales volume in wholesale trade fell back strongly (−2.5% after +1.9% in August). It dwindled strongly for wholesalers on a fee or contract basis (−6.0% after +4.5%), in food, beverages and tobacco (−3.4% after +1.2%), in household goods (−2.1% after +2.2%) and in information and communication equipment (−3.8% after +5.5%). By contrast, it kept increasing in wholesale of other machinery, equipment and supplies (+0.8% after +1.1%).

Sharp decrease in trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles

In September 2018, the sales volume in trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles decreased sharply (−2.7% after +2.2%), especially in sale of motor vehicles (−3.7% after +2.1%) and in maintenance and repair of motor vehicles (−3.8% after +9.9%). By contrast, it kept increasing strongly in maintenance and repair of motocycles (+2.7% after +2.3%).

Downturn in sales volume of retail trade

In September 2018, the sales volume in retail trade fell back (−1.1% after +1.4%), especially for the specialised stores (−1.3% after +1.6%). In particular, the sales volume dwindled in specialised stores of other goods (clothing, shoes etc.; −1.7% after +2.4%), in other household equipment (−1.1% after +0.1%), in cultural and recreation goods (−1.7% after +0.5%) and in food, beverages and tobacco (−1.0% after +1.3%). The sales volume also fell back in non-specialised stores (−1.3% after +1.0%). By contrast, it kept increasing in retail trade not in stores (+0.4% after +1.8%).

According to the first early estimates, the sales volume in retail trade except of motor vehicles and motorcycles should slightly increase in October 2018 (+0.5%). It should grow by 2.8% year on year.

Revisions

The variation in the sales volume of overall trade in August 2018 has been revised upwards at +1.8% instead of +1.7% initially published.

Table2Sales volume in the retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles

SA-WDA volume, Base year 2015
Sales volume in the retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (SA-WDA volume, Base year 2015) -
Change in %
Nace Classification Weight Sept. 2018 Sept./ Aug. Aug./ July q-o-q (1)
G Wolesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles 10000 107.9 –2.1 1.8 –0.4
45 Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and moto. 1272 116.9 –2.7 2.2 –0.3
451 Sale of motor vehicles 850 118.3 –3.7 2.1 0.1
452 Maintenance and repair of motor vehicles 89 113.9 –3.8 9.9 –0.2
453 Sale of motor vehicle parts and accessories 306 114.2 0.2 0.5 –1.3
454 Sale, maintenance and repair of moto. and related parts and accessories 27 113.1 2.7 2.3 0.8
46 Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and moto. 5777 105.0 –2.5 1.9 –0.9
461 Wholesale on a fee or contract basis 813 104.6 –6.0 4.5 –1.1
462 Wholesale of agricultural raw materials and live animals 390 87.2 –4.5 –4.5 –6.4
463 Wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco 1029 102.4 –3.4 1.2 –0.9
464 Wholesale of household goods 1130 105.0 –2.1 2.2 –0.2
465 Wholesale of information and communication equipment 331 124.1 –3.8 5.5 2.3
466 Wholesale of other machinery, equipmt and supplies 716 111.9 0.8 1.1 1.2
467 Other specialised wholesale 1132 104.4 –0.7 1.4 –1.5
469 Non specialised wholesale trade 236 101.9 –1.2 2.9 –4.8
47 Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and moto. 2952 109.8 –1.1 1.4 0.7
471 Non-specialised stores 1109 108.4 –1.3 1.0 1.1
472 to 477 Specialised stores 1622 108.1 –1.3 1.6 0.2
472 Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco 155 116.7 –1.0 1.3 0.7
473 Retail sale of automotive fuel 224 95.7 –0.4 0.8 –2.2
474 Retail sale of information and communication equipmt 65 125.3 –0.3 3.5 4.6
475 Retail sale of other household equipment 310 106.7 –1.1 0.1 0.3
476 Retail sale of cultural and recreation goods 118 105.4 –1.7 0.5 –0.4
477 Retail sale of other goods 750 109.5 –1.7 2.4 0.5
478 et 479 Retail trade not in stores 221 130.1 0.4 1.8 1.7
  • (1) Quarter-on-quarter: last three months /previous three months.
  • Sources: DGFiP, INSEE

Table3Revision of variations

in percentage points
Revision of variations (in percentage points) -
Aug./ July July/ June June/ May Q2 2018/ Q1 2018 2017/ 2016
G Overall trade 0.09 –0.14 –0.03 –0.08 0.00
Raw series 0.07 –0.05 0.03 0.02 0.00
SA-WDA parameters 0.02 –0.09 –0.06 –0.10 0.00
  • How to read : in the wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, the SA-WDA variation between July and August 2018 has been revised by +0.09 points. +0.07 points are due to the raw series' revision and +0.02 points to the new calculation of the SA-WDA parameters. Sources: DGFiP, INSEE

Pour en savoir plus

: bureau-de-presse@insee.fr
: