Retail trade - April 2018

In April 2018, seasonally adjusted sales in retail trade at constant prices increased by 0.6%, month-on-month (m-o-m). Sales adjusted for calendar effects increased by 5.0%, year‑on‑year (y-o-y); non-adjusted sales increased by 5.6%, y-o-y.

Seasonally adjusted sales in retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles (CZ‑NACE 47) increased by 0.6% in April at constant prices, month-on-month. Sales for sale of automotive fuel increased by 2.2%, for sale of non-food goods by 1.8%, while for food they dropped by 1.4%.

Sales in retail trade adjusted for calendar effects increased by 5.0%, year-on-year; sales for sale of non-food goods increased by 9.4%, sales for automotive fuel by 7.0%, and for food by 0.2%.

Non-adjusted sales in retail trade increased by 5.6%, y-o-y. Sales for sale of non-food goods increased by 12.9%, for sale of automotive fuel by 9.9%, while sales for sale of food dropped by 3.6%. The y-o-y development of non-adjusted sales was influenced by a higher number of working days (by 2 days more compared to April 2017) and also by Easter holidays. Easter shopping was made during April 2017, while in 2018 it was concentrated in the end of March.

Sales grew the fastest for sale via mail order houses or via Internet (+20.3%). Consumers were also more interested in purchases in specialised stores with non-food goods. Sales in retail sale of clothing and footwear in specialised stores increased by 19.9%, in retail sale of cultural and recreation goods in specialised stores by 17.2%, in retail sale of other household equipment in specialised stores by 14.0%, in retail sale of dispensing chemist, medical and orthopaedic goods, and cosmetic and toilet articles in specialised stores by 10.1%, and in retail sale of information and communication equipment in specialised stores by 6.3%. On the contrary, lower sales were in retail sale in non‑specialised stores with food, beverages or tobacco predominating (-3.7%) as well as in retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores (-1.1%).

The price deflator (CZ-NACE 47) related to the corresponding period of the previous year (VAT excluded) was 100.6%. It was influenced mainly by higher prices of dispensing chemist, medical and orthopaedic goods, food, and household equipment. On the contrary, prices decreased in retail sale of information and communication equipment in specialised stores, retail sale of clothing and footwear, and retail sale of cultural and recreation goods in specialised stores.

Seasonally adjusted sales for sale and repair of motor vehicles (CZ-NACE 45) increased at constant prices by 0.3%, m-o-m. Sales adjusted for calendar effects decreased by 3.5%, y-o-y. Non-adjusted sales increased by 3.0%, y-o-y. Sales for repair of motor vehicles increased by 5.2% and sales for sale of motor vehicles (including spare parts) by 2.3%, y-o-y.

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.
 

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Notes:

All data in the text of the News Release are at constant prices.
Data for January 2017 to March 2018 have been revised in accordance with the CZSO revision policy. Data for April 2018 are preliminary. Final data for all months of 2018 will be published in June 2019.
Responsible head at the CZSO: Marie Boušková, Director of the Services Statistics Department, phone number: (+420) 274 052 935,e-mail: marie.bouskova@csu.gov.cz
Contact person: Jana Gotvaldová, Head of the Trade, Transport, and Information Service Activities Statistics Unit, phone number: (+420) 274 052 691, e-mail: jana.gotvaldova@csu.gov.cz
Method of data acquisition: direct survey of the CZSO (SP 1-12)
End of data collection: 28 May 2018
End of data processing: 31 May 2018
Related outputs: Base indices and y-o-y indices since 2000 and 2001, respectively, are available in time series (https://csu.gov.cz/sales_indices_monthly_retail_trade_hotels_and_restaurants_time_series).
Next News Release will be published on: 4 July 2018