Retail trade shrinks

The National Statistical Institute (NSI) registered a 0.5% decrease in the turnover of retailers for December, compared to the previous month, NSI reported on Thursday. On an annual basis, retail trade (excluding sales of motor vehicles) contracted by 5.5%, which can be considered a collapse in the sector.

In December 2012, growth was registered in the retail trade of textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods, as well as foods, beverages and tobacco products, compared to November, but this was due to the Christmas and New Year holidays. Meanwhile, online and telephone orders of goods decreased by 16.8%, purchases of computers and TV sets dropped by 1.6%, while sales of pharmaceutical and medical products declined by 1.2%.

The highest annual growth in retail trade turnover - of 6.8% - was accounted for by online sales. At the same time, the decline in the sales of household appliances, furniture and other household goods was 13.5% on an annual basis, while retail trade of computer and communication equipment shrank by 11.6%. NSI registered a decrease of 4.3% even in the trade turnover of automotive fuels and lubricants, despite their higher prices.

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