Retail sales adjusted for calendar effects decreased by 0.2 percent year-on-year in October and fell by 1.9 percent month-on-month. Sales of non-food goods were lower, while sales of food grew, according to the Czech Statistical Office. October’s results were affected by measures against coronavirus spread, which closed several predominantly non-food outlets or had limited operations. In September, retail sales stagnated year on year. According to analysts, the decline in retail trade was weaker than expected in October.
“Clothing and footwear stores and sports, cultural and recreational products stores recorded a decline. On the other hand, pharmacies and medical supplies stores showed an increase in sales. Internet stores had almost a third higher sales than last year,” said CZSO Director of Services Statistics Marie Boušková.
This October had one working day less than last year. Excluding adjustments, retail sales decreased by 0.9 percent year on year. Sales of non-food goods decreased by 1.8 percent and of fuels by 11.6 percent, while sales of food increased by 3.9 percent.
Sales of clothing and footwear stores fell the most, by 36.5 percent. Traders in products for culture, sports, and recreation had sales lower by 18.8 percent. Specialized stores with computer and communication equipment decreased by 16.4 percent, and specialized stores with food grew by 17.3 percent.
Consumer interest focused mainly on purchases via the Internet or mail order services, which had 31.5 percent higher sales. Stores with pharmaceutical and medical goods improved by 6.3 percent, and non-specialized stores with food predominance by 5.3 percent. Sales also increased slightly in stores with household products.
For the sale and repair of motor vehicles, seasonally adjusted sales increased by 1.9 percent month-on-month, while calendar-adjusted sales decreased by 7.6 percent year-on-year. Gross sales decreased by 10.5 percent year-on-year, of which for repairs of motor vehicles they dropped by 12 percent and for sales of motor vehicles including spare parts by 10.1 percent.