The underlying pattern in the retail trade in August 2018, as suggested by the three-month on three-month measure remains one of growth for the fourth consecutive month, increasing by 0.5% in value terms and by 0.3% in volume terms.

Month on month both value and volume of retail trade rose by 0.7% in August 2018.

Compared with August 2017, both value and volume were estimated to have increased respectively by 2.2% and 1.4%.

The retail trade index for large scale distribution was up 2.4% while small scale distribution was up 1.3% when compared with the same period a year earlier. Online sales continued to grow year-on-year at 8.6%.