Decrease in retail sales in January

The volume of sales, excluding fuels, has decreased by 7.2% in January 2023 compared to the same month last year. In the same period, the sharpest increases were registered for ‘Retail sale via stalls and markets’, ‘Retail sale of information and communication equipment in specialised stores’ and ‘Cultural and recreation goods in specialised stores’, i.e. increases of 4.8%, 4.5% and 1.2%, respectively.
The sharpest decreases were observed in ‘Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet’, ‘Retail sale of non-food products (except fuel)’, ‘Retail sale in non-specialised stores with food, beverages or tobacco predominating’ and ‘Food, beverages and tobacco’, i.e. decreases of 11.7%, 9.5%, 8.1% and 8.0%, respectively.
These indices are expressed with reference year 2015=100.
From 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 has 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.
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.
Purpose and brief description
Evolution of the turnover in the retail trade.
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.