Index of wholesale and retail sales, August 2000

Sales of pharmaceutical and medical goods, cosmetics and toilet articles increased 8.9 per cent from August 1999 to August 2000. Retail sale of new goods in specialized stores increased 7.3 per cent. This sector includes clothing, shoes, electrical goods, furniture and building materials. Retail sales in non-specialized stores, which mainly include grocery stores, increased 1.9 per cent. Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco in specialized stores had dropped 0.8 per cent in August compared with August 1999.

Final Retail sales value index for August is 0,3 per cent points higher than preliminary figures published September 25.

The volume index rose 2.5 per cent from August last year to August this year. The value of retail sales increased 4.7 per cent and the price index rose 2.1 per cent in the same period. Retail sales figures exclude motor vehicles and petrol. The Seasonally adjusted index of retail sales rose 0.9 per cent from July to August 2000.