Turnover in retail trade remained in positive numbers in July 2022, but their growth was the lowest since the beginning of the year
The growth rate of turnover in retail trade slowed down again in July, it increased by 1.2%, year-on-year. A rise was mainly affected by hyper- and supermarkets and specialized stores of shoes, textiles and drugstores. Although the most dynamic nominal growth continued in sale of fuels, the enormous inflation affected a decrease in turnover of fuels by over 8% at constant prices.
In July 2022, turnover in retail trade increased by 1.2% year-on-year. Thus, the growth at constant prices was continuously kept for 17 months in a row. However, the current value of growth was the lowest since the beginning of the year, in the first months a rise in turnover reached double digits.
The total increase in turnover at constant prices1) was recorded by 5 out of 9 activities of the retail trade. The positive balance of the sector was mainly influenced by a rise in the two most important activities of the retail trade – in hyper and supermarkets (in non-specialized stores) by 0.5% and in other specialized stores (e.g. shoes, textiles, drugstores) by 7.5%. After six months, turnover in mail order and not in stores increased. The result was also supported by less significant activities, turnover in food, beverage and tobacco stores increased by 11.1% and in stores with PC and ICT equipment by 8.1%.
On the contrary, the better balance of the retail trade was affected by a decrease in turnover of four activities. Constantly rising fuel prices are related to high nominal growth of turnover, but after adjusting for extreme price growth, turnover in petrol station at constant prices declined by 8.2% compared to the last year. A decrease was also recorded in specialized stores of other household equipment (hobby markets, furniture and consumer electronics stores) by 10% and stores of books, sporting goods and toys (specialized stores of goods for culture and recreation) by 8.7%.
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Year-on-year development of other sectors of trade in July 2022
In July 2022, turnover in sale and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles increased by 2.3% year-on-year, which was mainly influenced by an increase in turnover in sale of motor vehicles, as well as a growth of turnover in repair and maintenance of motor vehicles. The sale of motor vehicle parts and accessories recorded a year-on-year decrease in turnover.
In wholesale1), turnover increased by almost 10.5%, while all its activities grew.
High inflation was also reflected in turnover of food and beverage service activities, which fell by 8.2% year-on-year. Although turnover in accommodation increased by 31.7% year-on-year, the low comparative base of the last year, caused by the start of the sector after the pandemic lockdown, must be taken into account.
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Month-on-month development in July 2022 compared to June 2022
In July 2022, compared to the previous month2), only turnover in accommodation increased by 17.2%. Other sectors recorded a decline. Turnover in wholesale fell by 3.1%, in maintenance and repair of motor vehicles by 1.7%, in food and beverage service activities by 0.9% and in retail trade by 0.7%.
The development for the first 7 months of 2022
In summary, for the first seven months of 2022, turnover in all sectors of internal trade grew more dynamically. Turnover in wholesale recorded a double-digit growth (by 20.1%). Turnover in retail trade rose by 9.2%, and turnover in sales and repair of motor vehicles increased by 5.7%. Turnover in food and beverage service activities increased by more than a quarter (26%), year-on-year, in the first seven months of the year. Turnover of accommodation providers rose by almost two and a half times, but still did not reach the values before the pandemic (compared to the balance of the first 7 months of 2019).