Monthly survey on retail trade - 2025-03
Published on the 23rd of April 2025
Turnover in retail trade declined slightly in March
Note: The change in retail sales does not reflect the change in total household consumption as the latter includes other items such as health care, education and rents.
In March, turnover in retail trade fell slightly monthly-on-month (-0.1%; data adjusted for seasonal and working-day variations), following a moderate increase in February (+0.6%). Food sales and manufactured goods sales edged down slightly (-0.1%), after picking up (+1.4%) and remaining stable, respectively, in February. Sales in the manufactured goods sub-sectors were mixed. Sales of new automobiles (-5.4% after -0.7%), DIY (-1.9% after -0.2%) and furniture (-1.8% after -3.9%) declined significantly, while sales of sports equipment (+5.7% after +0.8%), footwear (+3.9% after -1.8%) and textiles and clothing (+2.3% after 2.1%) rose strongly.
In terms of distribution channels, hypermarket and supermarket sales dropped (by -0.8% and -0.2% respectively), as did sales at department stores (-2.9%). Sales at small retail stores increased (+0.5%).
Three month-on-three month, overall turnover in retail trade dipped slightly (-0.1%), with contrasting trends between manufactured goods and food (+0.2% and -0.6% respectively).
In terms of distribution channels, hypermarket and supermarket sales dropped (by -0.8% and -0.2% respectively), as did sales at department stores (-2.9%). Sales at small retail stores increased (+0.5%).
Three month-on-three month, overall turnover in retail trade dipped slightly (-0.1%), with contrasting trends between manufactured goods and food (+0.2% and -0.6% respectively).
Total manufactured goods and food sales
Month-on-month change (%) - Seasonally and working-day adjusted volumes
Notes:.
1) Sectors are classified according to the relative weight of the products included in the total aggregate of retail trade (weights are given on the right scale).
2) The aggregated and by sub-sector series are seasonally adjusted on an individual basis. Total and manufactured products series are reconstituted by aggregating the SA-WDA series of the sub-components.
3) SA-WDA: Seasonally and working-day adjusted.
1) Sectors are classified according to the relative weight of the products included in the total aggregate of retail trade (weights are given on the right scale).
2) The aggregated and by sub-sector series are seasonally adjusted on an individual basis. Total and manufactured products series are reconstituted by aggregating the SA-WDA series of the sub-components.
3) SA-WDA: Seasonally and working-day adjusted.
Download the PDF version of the document
EN_Stat_Info_retail-trade_202503.pdf
Additional links
Breakdown by industrial product and outlet category – march 2025
Updated on the 22nd of April 2025