Trade sales fell (‑1.4%) in March 2024 – Quick Facts – 138

In March 2024, trade sales volumes fell 1.4% month-on-month, compared with a 1.6% increase in February.

In March 2024, wholesale trade sales excluding motor vehicles and motorcycles fell by 1.7% month-on-month, compared to +1.9% in February. The decline was mainly due to information and communication equipment (-7.8% compared to +8.9% in the previous month), household goods (-2.3% compared to +0.2% in the previous month) and “other specialized wholesale” (fuel, wood, chemical products, etc.: -2.2% compared to +3.2% in the previous month).

In March 2024, sales in the wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles also fell (-2.7% after +2.6%), especially in motor vehicle sales (-3.4% after +3.1%).

Finally, in March 2024, sales in the retail sector, excluding motor vehicles and motorcycles, fell slightly (-0.2% to +0.5%). While sales fell in specialized stores (-0.4% to +0.8%) and non-specialized stores (-0.5% to -0.2%), sales in the retail sector (non-specialized stores) accelerated (+2.3% to +1.0%). In specialized stores, sales decreased in “other goods” (pharmaceuticals, clothing, footwear, etc.: -1.3% to +0.9%) and “other household equipment” (furniture, appliances, hardware, etc.: -1.5% to +0.6%). On the contrary, sales increased in all other sub-sectors, especially food, beverages and tobacco (+1.6% to +3.2%).

According to preliminary estimates, retail trade sales excluding motor vehicles and motorcycles are expected to decline in April 2024 (-0.4% month-on-month). In February-April 2024, they will be 1.3% higher than in the same period last year.

Sales volumes in the overall trade in the first quarter of 2024 were 0.7% higher than in the first quarter of 2023. Growth was recorded in all three trade sectors: retail trade excluding motor vehicles and motorcycles (+0.8%), trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (+1.5%) and wholesale trade excluding motor vehicles and motorcycles (+0.4%). Within the retail trade sector, sales volumes increased in specialized stores (+1.4%) and in non-specialized retail trade (+1.1%), while non-specialized stores saw a decrease (-0.4%).