Retail Trade - January 2004
Falling car sale
Publication Date: 17. 03. 2004
Product Code: r-9101-04
Month-on-month comparison:
In January 2004, compared with December 2003, seasonally adjusted constant price retail sales incl. the automotive segment fell by 2.3%, of which the automotive segment -6.8% and retail sales excl. the automotive segment -0.1%. Sales of food, beverages or tobacco grew by 0.8%, whereas sale of non-food goods dropped by 0.8%.
Year-on-year comparison:
Seasonally adjusted constant price retail sales incl. the automotive segment were 1.1% up, of which the automotive segment decreased by 1.3% and the remaining retail sales rose by 2.3%.
Sales not seasonally adjusted were 1.4% down. Last decreasing sales were reported in August 2002. This index was influenced inter alia by January 2004 having a lower number of working days (-1). Different numbers of working days in y-o-y comparison have the biggest effect on sale in the automotive segment. Retail sales excl. the automotive segment, particularly sale in non-specialised stores with food, beverages or tobacco predominating, respond less to various numbers of working days.
The automotive segment recorded the highest fall (-6.2%). Sale of motor vehicles was 12.7% down, maintenance and repair of motor vehicles fell by 14.5%, while sale of automotive fuel was 5.0% up. Decreases in sale, maintenance and repair of motor vehicles were reported by all size groups of enterprises, increase in sale of automotive fuel recorded only enterprises with 50 or more employees. According to statistics produced by the Association of Car Industry and according to the Association of Car Importers, sale of new cars fell by 11.7%, which was the worst January result over last five years.
With the automotive segment excluded, retail sales saw a moderate growth (+0.7%); stores selling food, beverages or tobacco raised their sales (+2.1%), those selling non-food goods shrank (-0.1%). Development in the individual assortment types of stores was as followed:
- sales in non-specialized stores were 2.1% up, of which +3.1% sales in stores with food, beverages or tobacco predominating (where most of the chain stores are classified) and -1.6% sales in stores with non-food goods predominating ,
- in specialized stores, sales of non-food goods grew by 0.4%, sale of food, beverages or tobacco fell by 3.4%,
- among non-food specialized stores, only sales of books, newspapers and stationery and other retail sale in specialised stores were lower (-3.6%), sales elsewhere rose. Sales of pharmaceutical and medical goods, cosmetic and toilet articles grew by 6.4%. Winter sales boosted sales of textiles, clothing and footwear (+5.0%), and less influenced sales of furniture, electrical household appliances, hardware and other household equipment (+1.1%),
- like sale of automotive fuel, also retail sales excl. the automotive segment rose only in enterprises with 50 or more employees, of which +3.7% in the size group 50-99 employees and +6.8% in enterprises with 100 or more employees. The highest sales decline recorded entrepreneurs without employees (-8.4%).
Note
Contact: Alena Hellerová, phone (+420) 274 052 921, e-mail: ahellerova@gw.czso.cz
Data source: CZSO direct survey in enterprises
End of data collection: 9 March 2004
End of data processing: 11 March 2004
Related publications: 9106-04 Monthly Survey in Retail Trade, Hotels and Restaurants ( https://csu.gov.cz )
The data are preliminary; revised data for January 2004 will be made available in following two monthly News Releases; final data for each month of the year 2003 will be known in June 2004.