Retail sales still below pre-Covid levels: in May + 0.2% compared to April. Driving non-food items: + 28%
In May the retail sales in Italy they recorded a slight cyclical growth over the month. Non-food goods, but accessories, are the driving force. In general, however, the values remain lower than the pre-pandemic ones.
In particular, the figures released by Istat show growth of 0.2% in value and + 0.4% in volume; while on an annual basis, compared to May 2020, an increase of 13.3% in value and 14.1% in volume. The increase in the non-food sector marks a + 28.1% in value and + 28% in volume, while sales of food goods are down: -1.5% in value and -0.6% in volume.
Compared to April and therefore on a monthly basis, the sales of food goods are down: -2.0% in value and -1.9% in volume, while those of non-food goods are increasing: + 2% in value and + 2.2% by volume. Among non-food goods, positive trend changes were recorded for all product groups with the exception of Equipment for information technology, telecommunications, telephony which recorded a -4.0%.
The major increases they concern “clothing and furs” with an increase of 82.3% and footwear, leather and travel items with a + 59.7%. Compared to May 2020, the value of retail sales increases in all distribution channels: large-scale distribution marks a + 8.3%, businesses operating on small surfaces a + 19.5%, sales outside the shops a + 19.4% and e-commerce + 7.2%.
In May, he summarized theState, “there is a modest economic increase due to the positive change in sales of non-food goods. Despite this, the level of sales, both in value and in volume, is still lower than the levels prior to the crisis, ie February 2020. On a continuing trend basis , albeit at a slower pace than in April, the sustained growth dynamics of non-food products, which in May of last year were still influenced by the closure of many businesses. Finally, the growth in online sales slowed down “.