Federal Statistical Office (FSO) said, turnover in the retail sector rose by 0.7% in nominal terms in June 2019 compared with the previous year. Economists had expected a 0.6% decrease. Seasonally adjusted, nominal turnover rose by 1.4% compared with the previous month.

Real turnover in the retail sector also adjusted for sales days and holidays rose by 0.7% in June 2019 compared with the previous year. Real growth takes inflation into consideration. Compared with the previous month, real, seasonally adjusted retail trade turnover registered an increase of 1.5%.

Adjusted for sales days and holidays, the retail sector excluding service stations showed a 0.5% increase in nominal turnover in June 2019 compared with June 2018 (in real terms +0.4%). Retail sales of food, drinks and tobacco registered a decline in nominal turnover of 0.4% (in real terms –0.7%), whereas the non-food sector registered a nominal plus of 1.5% (in real terms +1.7%).

Excluding service stations, the retail sector showed a seasonally adjusted increase in nominal turnover of 1.3% compared with the previous month (in real terms +1.3%). Retail sales of food, drinks and tobacco registered a plus of 1.5% (in real terms +1.4%). The non-food sector showed a plus of 1.7% (in real terms +1.8%).