In June 2015, calendar-adjusted data show that the volume of retail sales rose by 6.2 percent year-on-year, while unadjusted data signal an even larger increase of 7.2 percent. This growth figure is the fourth largest within the EU, and more than three times larger than the EU average. Remarkable food sales growth in June confirms that consumers have adjusted to the introduction of Sunday shopping restrictions.

It is a highly favourable sign that the structure of the 24-month positive sales trend has been increasingly balanced, as massive year-on-year increases were recorded at food retailers (+4.5 percent), filling stations (+9 percent) and non-food retailers (+8.1 percent). In the initial six months of the year, the volume of retail sales was up by 6.1 percent compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.

Data from past months as well as recent statistics clearly confirm that – despite former assumptions that sales volumes were set to fall due to the introduction of Sunday shopping restrictions – the new regulation did not cause lower turnovers as consumers had adjusted to the change in opening hours and shifted shopping to other days of the week. Increasing turnover also had a positive impact on the number of people employed in the retail sector: the number of people employed at retail enterprises with at least five employees was up in June by 4400, compared to the same period of the previous year, while the number of vacancies exceeded 5500, according to data of 20 July.

The Ministry for National Economy is expecting further household consumption growth for the remainder of the year, as a result of remarkable employment growth, the increase of wages in real terms, extra family income due to bank refunds and greater transparency thanks to on-line cash registers.  Retail sales data affirm that household spending has improved and families are more optimistic about future prospects.

(Ministry for National Economy)