Index of wholesale and retail sales, October 2000

The retail sale, excluding sales in stores, increased by 18.9 per cent in October 2000 compared with October 1999.

Sales of pharmaceutical and medical goods, cosmetics and toilet articles increased 6.9 per cent in the same period. The value index of retail sale of new goods in specialised stores did not change from October 1999 to October 2000. This sector includes clothing, shoes, electrical goods, furniture and building materials. Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores decreased 6.3 per cent and retail sales in non-specialised stores, which mainly include grocery stores, dropped 1.9 per cent in October this year compared with October 1999.

The final retail sales value index for October is 0.1 per cent less than the preliminary figure published November 23.

The volume index is 3.1 per cent less in October this year compared with October last year. The value of retail sales decreased 0.4 per cent and the price index rose 2.7 per cent in the same period. The retail sales figures exclude motor vehicles and petrol. The seasonally adjusted index of retail sales decreased 2.4 per cent from September to October 2000.