Retail trade

The retail trade index measures the monthly evolution of the turnover at current prices of businesses which are engaged in retail trade. With effect from January 2018, the indices are calculated with reference to the base year 2015, using the Ateco 2007 classification (Italian edition of Nace Rev. 2)

In the three months to June 2018, the value of retail sales rose by 0.2%, the strongest three-month on three-month growth since November 2017 at 0.4%

Looking at the quarterly movement of the value of retail trade, the 3 months to June 2018 (Quarter 2) is the first quarterly growth since Quarter 3 of 2017.

Despite growing in value terms, the volume of retail trade continued his recent decline in the three-month series, which started after positive Quarter 3 of 2017.

Compared with June 2017, both value and volume increased by 1.5% and 0.5% respectively.

Month-on-month the value of retail trade dropped 0.2% in June, while the quantity sold is estimated to have fallen by 0.3% in the same period.

Compared with June 2017, the retail trade index for large scale distribution grew by 2.1%, while small scale distribution saw a decline (-0.4%).

In June 2018, internet sales continued to increase when compared with previous years. The y-o-y online retailing is up 14.5%.