Index of wholesale and retail sales, April 2003

The volume index of retail sale increased by 4.0 per cent in April 2003 compared with April 2002. The value index of retail sales rose by 4.2 per cent in the same period. Retail sales figures exclude motor vehicles and petrol.

The volume index of retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco in specialized stores increased by 21.2 per cent in April 2003 compared with April 2002. Retail sales in non-specialized stores, which mainly include grocery stores, increased the turnover volume by 8.2 per cent in the same period. Retail sales of new goods in specialized stores decreased the turnover in volume by 1.6 per cent in April 2003 compared with April 2002. This sector includes clothing, shoes, electrical goods, furniture and building materials. The volume index of pharmaceutical and medical goods, cosmetics and toilet articles decreased by 1.3 per cent in the same period.

Uncertainty due to Easter

Note that the Easter holidays this year is in April, while it was in March last year. This gives rise to uncertainty in the calculation and interpretation of the figures. Comparing unadjusted figures for the same period in different years is difficult due to the extreme growth rates that can occur. Furthermore the seasonal adjustment of figures with a strong presence of calendar effects, such as Easter holidays, is a rather complex matter, and a larger uncertainty than normal is thus entailed.