March 3 (SeeNews) - Romania's retail sales increased by 6.4% year-on-year in January, after growing by 7.2% the month before, seasonally and working-day adjusted data from the country’s statistical office showed on Friday.
On a monthly comparison basis, retail trade turnover was up 0.2% in January, after growing by 0.1% in December, the data indicated.
Romania's retail sales increased by 13.5% last year.
Details follow, seasonally and working-day adjusted data (pct change):
|
Jan y/y |
Dec y/y |
Jan m/m |
Dec m/m |
Retail sales |
6.4% |
7.2% |
0.2% |
0.1% |
-food sales |
3.0% |
-0.4% |
2.0% |
-2.1% |
-non-food sales |
7.3% |
13.8% |
-6.2% |
0.5% |
-fuels |
12.4% |
8.5% |
8.8% |
4.2% |
The figures do not include trade in motor vehicles and motorcycles.
Commenting on the figures, Raiffeisen Bank analysts pointed out that although modest, the positive dynamics was driven primarily by sales of fuels which advanced by 8.8% month-on-month.
"Despite the modest advance posted at the beginning of the year, we expect retail sales to accelerate in the upcoming months. Among the reasons backing such dynamics are the increase of real disposable income as a result of the additional fiscal stimulus in place and the elevated consumer confidence," Raiffeisen Bank analysts said in a daily market report.