Retail Trade - April 2016

In April 2016, sales in retail trade after seasonal adjustment increased at constant prices by 0.8%, month-on-month (m-o-m). Sales adjusted for calendar effects increased by 5.7%, year‑on-year (y-o-y), non-adjusted by 4.9%.

Seasonally adjusted sales in retail trade except of motor vehicles and motorcycles (CZ‑NACE 47) increased by 0.8% in April at constant prices, month-on-month. Sales adjusted for calendar effects increased by 5.7%, year-on-year. Non-adjusted sales in retail trade increased by 4.9%, y-o-y. The difference between non-adjusted and adjusted data (at the same number of working days in April 2016 and 2015) was mainly owing to the influence of the Easter. While in 2015 Easter shopping was concentrated in the beginning of April, in 2016 it was in March. Non-adjusted sales for sale of automotive fuel increased by 8.8%, y-o-y; for sale of non-food goods it was by 6.7% and for food by 1.1%.

A long-term trend continued, which lied in growth of retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet (+19.8%). Higher sales were recorded by all main assortment types of stores, especially those with other household equipment (+9.8%), cultural and recreation goods (+5.4%), clothing and footwear (+4.0%), and dispensing chemist, medical and orthopaedic goods, and cosmetic and toilet articles in specialised stores (+3.1%). Sales for sale of food increased in both non-specialized and specialized stores the same by 1.1%.

The price deflator (CZ-NACE 47) related to the corresponding period of the previous year (VAT excluded) was 97.3%. It was influenced mainly by lower prices of automotive fuel, food, and information and communication equipment. On the contrary, prices increased in retail sale of clothing and footwear, cultural and recreation goods, and dispensing chemist, medical and orthopaedic goods.

Seasonally adjusted sales for sale and repair of motor vehicles (CZ-NACE 45) increased at constant prices by 2.5%, m-o-m. Sales adjusted for calendar effects increased by 13.4%, y-o-y. Non-adjusted sales increased by 15.8%, y-o-y; sales for sale of motor vehicles (including spare parts) increased by 16.7% and for repair of motor vehicles by 12.0%.

International comparison of retail sales development in the EU Member States is available at: (http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/short-term-business-statistics/publications/news-releases).