Reply #31: europe: Annual retail sales fall 3.9% [View All]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0527/breaking23.html

Retail sales continued to decline in April, falling 3.9 per cent compared to a year earlier, new data from the Central Statistics Office showed today.

On a monthly basis, sales were down 0.8 per cent compared to March.

The motor trade continued to play a large part in trends. Excluding vehicle sales from the figures saw the annual decrease deepen to 5 per cent, and 1 per cent month on month.

On a yearly basis, fuel, furniture and pharmaceuticals were among the categories that saw the sharpest decline. The volume of fuel sales was down almost 12 per cent, while furniture and lighting sales declined by 16.2 per cent. Pharmaceuticals, medical and cosmetic articles saw sales slump 7.4 per cent.

Gains were moderate, with clothing and footwear sales rising by 1.6 per cent compared to 2010, and deaprtment store sales increasing by 1.4 per cent. In all, only three categories showed any growth, while 10 contracted.






me: this is ireland.