Retail trade turnover also continued to decline in May, both large stores and small retailers were affected

Retail turnover lagged behind last year for the fourth consecutive month. Seven out of nine components of the retail trade recorded lower turnover. The whole industry was affected mainly by a decrease in turnover of hyper and supermarkets. Only gas stations and computers and communication technology stores remained above last year's level.

The year-on-year decline in retail turnover¹⁾ continued in May 2023, by 8.5%. The result of the sector was negatively affected mainly by a 9% decrease in turnover of the most important non-specialized stores, which include hypermarkets and supermarkets. Turnover of other household goods stores including hobby markets, furniture and consumer electronics stores remained in double-digit decline, it fell by almost 19%. Turnover of specialized other goods stores, e.g. footwear, textiles or drugstores, also recorded a more significant decrease by more than 12%.

More than a third of the turnover growth of fuel stores prevented retail trade from a worse overall result. However, its rapid growth was significantly affected by extending of the number of reporting units from the beginning of 2023 due to reclassifying their main activity into retail trade. Turnover of specialized computers and communication technology stores increased by more than 17%.

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Year-on-year development of other components of trade in May 2023

Turnover in sale and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles¹⁾ increased year-on-year by 11.5%, mainly due to a double-digit growth in sale of motor vehicles and in repair and maintenance of motor vehicles. Wholesale¹⁾ recorded year-on-year lower turnover for the third month in a row, the downward rate slowed slightly to 7.2%. Turnover of food and beverage service activities¹⁾ increased year-on-year by 11.2% and turnover in accommodation¹⁾ by 16%.

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Month-on-month development in May 2023 compared to April 2023

In May, compared to April, turnover²⁾ recorded almost a fifth growth in food and beverage service activities,  it increased by 9% in wholesale, by more than 4% in accommodation and up to 1% in retail trade. It slightly decreased only in sale and repair of motor vehicles.

Development for the first five months of 2023

In January to May 2023 , increases in turnover of sale and repair of motor vehicles exceeded 17%, turnover rose by almost 15% in food and beverage service activities, and an increase of almost 40% was recorded in accommodation. Turnover was down by less than 6% in retail trade and by more than 2% in wholesale.