Swiss retail trade fell sharply in August

Federal Statistical Office (FSO) said, turnover adjusted for sales days and holidays rose in the retail sector by 1.3% in nominal terms in August 2019 compared with the previous year. Seasonally adjusted, nominal turnover fell by 1.6% compared with the previous month.

Real turnover adjusted for sales days and holidays fell in the retail sector by 1.4% in August 2019 compared with the previous year. Real growth takes inflation into consideration. Compared with the previous month, real, seasonally adjusted retail trade turnover registered a decline of 1.6%.

Adjusted for sales days and holidays, the retail sector excluding service stations showed a 0.7% decrease in nominal turnover in August 2019 compared with August 2018 (in real terms –0.9%). Retail sales of food, drinks and tobacco registered a decline in nominal turnover of 0.4% (in real terms –0.8%), whereas the non-food sector registered a nominal negative of 1.2% (in real terms

–1.0%).

Excluding service stations, the retail sector showed a seasonally adjusted decline in nominal turnover of 1.4% compared with the previous month (in real terms –1.5%). Retail sales of food, drinks and tobacco registered a nominal minus of 1.0% (in real terms –1.0%). The non-food sector showed a minus of 2.1% (in real terms –2.1%).