The Slovak Statistics Office has reported a 9.2% year-over-year decrease in retail sales for December 2009, closing the year with a total drop of 10.3% as compared to 2008, the SITA newswire wrote.
The December decline represents a total of €1.729 billion, slowing by 0.6 percentage points from November 2009’s y-o-y results and brings 2009’s total retail sales to €17.441 billion less than those reported in 2008.
Some of the sectors that had a large influence on the diminished year-end results included household goods retailers, with a decrease in sales of 30.3% y-o-y; kiosks and market stands, with a decrease of 29.9%; and outlets specialising in motor fuels, with a decrease of 20.3%.
Nonetheless, some retail sectors reported growth in December 2009, including non-specialised retailers, with a growth of 3%; IT and communications, with a growth of 2.7%; and recreation and culture, with a growth of 2.1%. SITA
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
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