BRATISLAVA, May 4, (WEBNOVINY) – The decline in retail sales accelerated in March. While in January they fell only moderately by 0.1 percent y/y and stagnated in February, they dropped 3.4 percent to EUR 1.39 billion in March, the Statistics Office of the Slovak Republic reported. The Statistics Office ascribes the decline to lower sales of motor fuels in specialized outlets (-15.7 percent) and retails sales reported outside stores, stalls and markets (- 3.2 percent). Retail sales at non-specialized stores, down 3.3 percent, contributed to the overall decline, too. The Statistics Office added that retail of ICT equipment in specialized outlets grew the most in the third month (+4.7 percent).
Wholesale sector reported sales of EUR 1.952 billion, which was a year-over-year decline of 2 percent. Other specialized wholesale posted a drop of 5.9 percent, wholesale of household goods of 1.5 percent and business mediation of 1.2 percent. The relatively fasted sales growth was reported in wholesale business with ICT equipment of 2.1 percent. Sales of accommodation tumbled by 3.8 percent to EUR 23.8 million. Sales at pubs and restaurants shrank by 1.1 percent to EUR 63.8 million.
Revenues from services and goods in the sale and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles dropped 3.9 percent in monthly terms. Pubs and restaurants posted a monthly decrease in sales of 1.7 percent. The retail sector dwindled by 1 percent. The wholesale business, in contrast, grew 0.7 percent m/m.
Retail sales came down by 2.2 percent to EUR 17.3 billion last year. Most of the year, retail sales achieved lower volumes in annual terms. Solely March and June brought about an growth of 0.2 and 1 percent, respectively.
SITA
