The volume of retail trade exclusive of motor vehicles and gasoline climbed 5.5 per cent from November 1995 to November 1996. The price index went up 1.3 per cent during the same period.
Norway's seasonally adjusted volume index for November is the highest seasonally adjusted volume index ever calculated. The index was 2.6 per cent higher than in October 1996.
The volume of non-store retail trade increased by 10 per cent from November 1995 to November 1996. Retail trade in other new goods rose 7.2 per cent. This group includes, among other things, clothing, shoes, electrical household appliances, furniture, hardware, paints and building materials. The volume of retail trade in non-specialized stores and retail sales of food, beverages and tobacco in specialized stores went up respectively 4.9 and 3.3 per cent during the same period. On the other hand, retail sales of pharmaceutical and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries grew by only 0.2 per cent.
Weekly Bulletin issue no. 3, 1997