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)

The underlying trend in the three months to July 2018 shows the value of retail trade grew by 0.5%, while the volume remains flat.

When compared to June 2018, both value and volume of retail trade slightly fell, decreasing by 0.1% and 0.2% respectively.

The longer-term picture as illustrated by the year-on-year growth rate shows the value of retail trade dropped by 0.6%, while the quantity sold contracted by 1.8%.

Both large scale distribution and small scale distribution decreased by 0.1% and 1.5% respectively compared with July 2017.

In July 2018, the general trend in online sales remains one of growth as internet sales index is estimated to have risen by 13.6% when compared with the same month a year earlier.