Commercial sales drop in spring 2020 after rebounding in 2019

In 2019, activity in the commercial sectors accelerates in a context of slowing prices. In wholesale trade, sales are dynamic in most sectors, particularly in capital goods and household goods. In retail trade, sales are buoyant, except in retail sale in non-specialised stores with food predominating, particularly in large food stores.

At the beginning of 2020, commercial activity is disrupted by the health crisis linked to Covid-19. General food retail trade responds to a sharp increase in demand in March and April, and increases employment accordingly. Conversely, non-food stores are almost at a standstill and have massive recourse to short-time working. The crisis has accentuated certain trends already at work: the development of online sales and the decline of hypermarkets.