Retail sales volume down 2.2 pct in August

Gazzetta team
Retail sales volume down 2.2 pct in August
Retail sales volume fell 2.2 pct in August this year despite a big increase in sales in clothing and footwear because of the summer sales season.

Hellenic Statistical Authority, in a report released on Friday, said that clothing/footwear sales jumped 20.9 pct in August, bookstores sales rose 11.9 pct and department stores sales rose 1.2 pct, while on the other hand, sales fell 10.6 pct in furniture/home equipment, 5.1 pct in food/tobacco, 3.4 pct in fuel/lubricants, 3.0 pct in supermarkets and 1.7 pct in pharmaceutical/cosmetics.

The volume of retail sales fell 2.2 pct in August, compared with the same month last year, but grew 11.3 pct from July 2015.

The turnover index (current prices) fell 4.0 pct in August from August 2014, but grew 8.4 pct compared with July 2015.

The seasonally-adjusted volume index fell 2.7 pct in August (annual basis) but grew 3.8 pct from July, while the seasonally-adjusted turnover index fell 4.6 pct in August (annual basis) and grew 3.9 pct from July.