Trade in 2018 With the exception of wholesale trade, business is slowing down; purchasing preferences are changing

In 2018, activity in the commercial sectors is mixed. In wholesale trade, sales remain buoyant (+1,9% in volume terms, as in 2017), particularly in household goods trade. In retail trade, sales are much less vigorous than in 2017 (+0,3% in volume terms, after +1,3%), with a growing preference for small commercial areas. Distance selling (especially online selling) is also slowing down, but remains more dynamic than retail trade as a whole, and continues to gain market share. Finally, motor trade also slowed in 2018, affected by changes in anti-pollution standards (+1,1% in volume terms, after +5.3%). Prices are rising sharply in the three main trade sectors so that sales are dynamic in value terms.