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May 07 2021 Substantial steadiness of retail sales on a monthly basis in March. Istat notes this, which estimates an almost zero cyclical variation (-0.1% in value and + 0.1% in volume) which summarizes growth for food products (+ 1.9% in value and +1, 7% by volume) and a decrease for non-food products (-1.6% in value and -1.1% in volume).
On a trend basis, in March 2021 retail sales increased by 22.9% in value and by 23.5% in volume.
A result - explains the institute - due in particular to the sales of non-food goods which recorded a very strong increase both in value and in volume (respectively + 49.7% and + 50.3%); sales of food products also increased, albeit to a lesser extent (+ 3.7% in value and volume).
The "very strong trend increase - observes Istat in the comment - reflects the particularly depressed levels that characterized March 2020, the first month of forced closure of many commercial activities due to the health emergency, particularly in sectors not considered essential. exceptionally large positive trend changes in sales of non-food goods, with growth rates never seen before for almost all products and the various types of distribution ".
In the first quarter of 2021, in quarterly terms, retail sales increased by 0.2% in value and decreased by 0.3% in volume. Those of food goods fell by 0.6% in value and 0.4% in volume, while sales of non-food goods grew in value (+ 0.9%) but showed a slight decline in volume (-0.2 %).