Retail trade turnover

18.2% decrease in retail sales - January 2024

Economic indicators
18.2% decrease in retail sales - January 2024

The volume of sales decreased in all major trade sectors compared to December 2023

Compared to the previous month, the volume of sales in retail trade, excluding fuels, has decreased by 18.2% in January 2024.

As far as major sectors are concerned, we register a decrease of 18.3% for the retail sale in non-specialised stores with food, beverages or tobacco predominating, of 3.5% for automotive fuel in specialised stores, of 19.1% for other goods in specialised stores, of 7.1% for other household equipment in specialised stores and of 6.7% for textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods in specialised stores.

Retail trade registered a decrease in its volume compared to January 2023

Compared to January 2023, the volume of sales in retail trade, excluding fuels, has decreased by 3.8%.

In the major trade sectors, we register a decrease of 4.7% for the retail sale in non-specialised stores with food, beverages or tobacco predominating, of 6% for other household equipment in specialised stores, of 1% for other goods in specialised stores and of 3.4% for textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods in specialised stores.

The only increase (5.1%) concerns the retail sale of automotive fuel in specialised stores.

More info

These indices are expressed with reference year 2021=100.

We have introduced a new downloadable file and updated the Be.stat Cube. From now on, both will include indices expressed in reference year 2021=100.

The downloadable file with the indices expressed in reference year 2015=100 is still available, but will no longer be updated and will stop in December 2023.

Since January 2021, following the new European FRIBS regulation (Regulation (EU) 2019/2152), breakdowns for retail trade have changed. Some breakdowns no longer exist and new ones have been implemented.

Our methodology also changed: 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.

Chart
Content

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.

Table

Purpose and brief description

Evolution of the turnover in the retail trade.

Reference year

From January 2024, the indices are expressed with reference year 2021=100.

Therefore, we have created a new downloadable file, expressing the full series with reference year 2021=100.

The downloadable files with reference year 2015=100 remain available but will no longer be updated. These files end consequently in December 2023.

Population

Enterprises carrying out a main economic activity in the division 47 of the NACE Rev. 2 (Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles)

Frequency

Monthly.

Timing of publication

Preliminary results available 30 days after the reference period; final results available 50 days after the reference period

Definitions

Economic activity (NACE-BEL): Official nomenclature with an "X" at the end of the number since the information is only available for 4 positions.

Deflated gross index: Deflated gross index of the turnover in the retail trade

Deflated index (SA-WDA): deflated index of the turnover in the retail trade, seasonnally adjusted and working day adjusted

Deflated index (WDA): deflated index of the turnover in the retail trade, working day adjusted

Gross index: gross index of the turnover in the retail trade

Index (SA-WDA): index of the turnover in the retail trade, seasonnally adjusted and working day adjusted

Index (WDA): index of the turnover in the retail trade, working day adjusted

Trend of the deflated index: trend of the deflated index of the turnover in the retail trade

Trend of the index: trend of the index of the turnover in the retail trade.

Metadata

Remark

Revision of the survey on retail trade