Turnover from pre-Christmas shopping in November was lower year-on-year, the turnover of accommodation providers deepened significantly

Turnover in all major internal trade activities dropped year-on-year in November 2020. In retail trade, turnover reached negative numbers after five months of growth. Turnover of accommodation providers did not reach even a third of the volume from November 2019, the turnover of restaurants and car dealers also lagged behind year-on-year.

After four months of growth, turnover in retail trade dropped again year on year in November 2020, however the decline was slight, only by 0.4%. The year-on-year decline was in five of the nine monitored retail activities. A more significant drop in total turnover was prevented by a growth in the most important component of retail sales in non-specialized stores (hypermarkets and supermarkets).

Turnover from the sale and repair of motor vehicles continued to decline, dropping by 14,3 % year-on-year in November. After five months of growth, wholesale turnover also fell slightly in November.

Development in November 2020 compared to October 2020¹⁾

Compared to the previous month, the development of turnover was less favorable in all retail trade activities. The operators of food and beverage services, whose turnover fell by 15,8 % month-on-month, were the worse-off. Turnover in accommodation decreased by 5,2 %, in wholesale by 3,6 %, in retail trade by 2 % and in sale and repair of motor vehicles by 1 %.

Development in November 2020 compared to November 2019

Turnover in retail trade decreased by 0,4 % year-on-year in November. The overall decrease was reflected in five out of the nine monitored retail activities. A more significant decline in retail trade was prevented by a growth in the most important component - the sale of non-specialized stores (hypermarkets and supermarkets). This component shows a year-on-year growth for the tenth month in a row, in November by 2,1 %. However, the increase was the lowest compared to previous months.

The overall decline in retail turnover was mainly due to a year-on-year decline in specialized food, beverage and tobacco stores, where turnover was lower year-on-year for the ninth month in a row; the November drop of 17,8 % was the highest in 2020.

Turnover of sellers in specialized stores with other goods also decreased significantly by 2,8 %, which include, inter alia, clothing stores, footwear, drugstores, pharmacies, other retail sale in specialized stores, etc. They recorded a decline after three months of growth, and an optimistic higher growth in October. Compared to November 2019, turnover in specialized stores with fuels was also lower by 5,5 %, which is influenced by long-term lower unit prices of fuels.

The overall balance of retail trade was also affected by the increase in turnover not in stores, stalls and markets, which includes, inter alia, also mail order and internet sales, year-on-year by 9,4 %. This retail segment has been growing for the fifth month in a row. Turnover of retailers of goods for culture and recreation also increased by 8,4 %, which includes, inter alia, also the turnover of books, audio and video recordings, sports equipment and toys. However, this item is less significant in terms of volume.

Due to the increased interest in information in connection with the corona crisis, the SO SR also provides extended information on selected more detailed retail trade activities.²⁾  Within them, year-on-year turnover was lower in stores with footwear and leather goods by 7,9 % and in stores with clothing by 6 %. Compared to October, the decline slowed down significantly in both activities. Year-on-year, turnover of retail stores of meat and meat products also decreased by 10,4 %, as well as tobacco products by 13 %.The decrease in sale and repair of motor vehicles continued, in November turnover in these internal trade activities decreased by 14,3 % year-on-year, while turnover decreased since the beginning of 2020. In particular, turnover in sale of motor vehicles is lower by 17,6 % and a more significant decrease was also reflected in sales of spare parts and accessories. However, the year-on-year positive balance was maintained by turnover in repair and maintenance of motor vehicles; in November they were 10,6 % higher, year-on-year.

After five months of growth, wholesale turnover decreased, but the November decline of 2,3 % was more modest than in the spring months. Turnover decreased in most activities, most notably in the wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco.

The decline in turnover of accommodation, after a moderation in the summer months, deepened again for the second month in a row, turnover in November did not reach even a third of the volume of turnover from November 2019, they were lower by 68,2 % year-on-year. The decline in food and beverage service activities also deepened, to 27 %.

Development over the eleven months of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019

Over the eleven months of 2020, turnover in sale and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles decreased by 17,5 %, compared with the corresponding period last year. The increase was maintained only in wholesale, only a slight, by 0,6 %. Turnover in retail trade, dropped by 1,2 %, since the beginning of the year.

Over the eleven months, turnover in accommodation decreased by 42,9 % and in food and beverage service activities by 8,3 %, since the beginning of the year.

We thank all enterprises that fulfilled the reporting obligation, even in the current difficult situation, and provided the Statistical Office of the SR with primary data required for a compilation of statistics on turnover in internal trade.