The volume of sales in retail trade, excluding fuels, has sharply increased by 15.2% in March 2021 compared to the same month last year. In the same period, the sharpest increases were registered for ‘Other retail sale in non-specialised stores’, ‘Other household equipment in specialised stores’, ‘Textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods in specialised stores’ and ‘Cultural and recreation goods in specialised stores’, i.e. increases of 122%, 70.1%, 62% and 50%, respectively.
The sharpest decreases were observed in ‘Retail sale in non-specialised stores with food, beverages or tobacco predominating’ and ‘Food, beverages and tobacco’, i.e. decreases of 3.4% and 2.8%, respectively.
Comparisons with March 2019
As the shops deemed non-essential were closed during part of March 2020, we can also compare the current results with those of March 2019. The sharpest increases can then be observed for ‘Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet’, ‘Retail trade not in stores, stalls or markets’ and ‘Retail sale via stalls and markets’, i.e. increases of 63.8%, 43% and 31%, respectively.
The sharpest decreases were observed in ‘Textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods in specialised stores’ and ‘Automotive fuel in specialised stores’, i.e. decreases of 15.1% and 6.6%.
The volume of sales in retail trade, excluding fuels, has increased by 11.6% in March 2021 compared to the same month in 2019.
These indices are expressed with reference year 2015=100.
From January 2021 and following the new European FRIBS regulation (Regulation (EU) 2019/2152), breakdowns at the retail level have changed. Some breakdowns no longer exist and new ones have been implemented. Our methodology has also been reviewed. The main data source is the VAT declaration of enterprises to the FPS Finances, and no longer a survey. Only +/- 340 major enterprises will continue to answer the survey. The indices have been recalculated with the new methodology since 2010.