BRATISLAVA, June 7, (WEBNOVINY) – Retail sales continued sinking in April. The Statistics Office of the Slovak Republic reported a 0.3-percent decrease in annual terms to EUR 1.405 billion. Compared to March, the y/y downturn softened from 3.4 percent. Last time retail sales increased was in June 2010. In February 2011, the indicator stagnated on an annual basis.
The Statistics Office attributes this development to lower retail sales of fuels in specialized outlets (-17.5 percent), retail sales reported outside stores, stalls and markets (-4.6 percent) and retail sales of other goods reported in specialized outlets (-1.4 percent). Non-specialized outlets, on the other hand, posted 5.9-percent growth of retail sales retail sales of ICT devices offered in specialized stores grew 3.9 percent. Retail sales increased 0.1 percent in monthly terms.
The wholesale sector reported a 1.8-percent decrease in sales to EUR 1.942 million. The monthly drop accounted for 0.1 percent. The sale and repairs of motor vehicles and motorcycles bolstered 11.4 percent y/y to EUR 296 million. Compared to March, this was 3.3-percent growth. Sales in the accommodation sector ticked up 0.3 percent y/y. Pubs and restaurants saw a 0.8-percent increase to EUR 62.8 million. In monthly terms, the accommodation sector improved 0.4 percent and pubs and restaurants bolstered 0.3 percent.
During the first four months of this year, retail sales dropped 1 percent y/y to EUR 5.391 billion. The wholesale business witnessed a decline by 1.8 percent to EUR 5.391 billion in the observed period. The sale and repairs of motor vehicles came up by 16.2 percent to EUR 1.095 billion but the accommodation sector shrank by 2.2 percent to EUR 93.1 million. Sales in the horeca sector stagnated at EUR 255.3 million.
Retail sales sank by 2.2 percent y/y to EUR 17.3 billion last year. Most of 2010, the indicator was below the level reported in the previous year, except for March and June, which posted a y/y increase of 0.2 percent and 1 percent, respectively.
SITA
