Increase in retail sales in January

Economic indicators
Increase in retail sales in January

The volume of sales in retail trade, excluding fuels, has increased by 6.7% in January 2021 compared to the same month last year. In the same period, the sharpest increases were registered for “Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet”, “Retail sale not in stores, stalls or markets” and “Other household equipment in specialised stores”, i.e. increases of 42.1%, 31.0% and 11.4%. The sharpest decreases were observed in “Retail sale of automotive fuel in specialised stores”, "Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores” and “Retail sale of textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods in specialised stores”, i.e. decreases of 14.4%, 6.7% and 6.2%. 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. So 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.