Year-on-Year Sales Decline Continues in April, but Fuel Sales Increase

In April, the year-on-year decline in sales of food and non-food goods, which began last May, continued. On the contrary, the sale of fuel in April, as in the previous month, recorded a year-on-year increase in sales. Customers spent almost seven percent more on them year-on-year.

“All assortment groups of stores, as well as online and mail-order stores, recorded a decline in sales.

Lower sales in non-specialized stores with a predominance of food and lower sales of household products had a significant influence on the decline in retail sales,” said Marie Boušková, director of the Department of Trade, Transport, Services, Tourism and Environment Statistics of the CZSO.

Revenues from food sales decreased in non-specialized stores with a predominance of food by 9.4 percent year-on-year and in specialized food stores by almost seven percent. In non-specialized stores with a predominance of non-food goods, sales increased by 4.1 percent. Internet and mail-order stores’ sales in April fell by 6.8 percent year-on-year.

Sales in specialized stores with household products fell by 16.5 percent year-on-year. Clothing and footwear retailers saw a 7.5 percent drop in customer spending. Sales in stores with computer and communication equipment fell by five percent. Sales of drugstores fell by 3.8 percent, and those selling products for culture, sports and recreation fell by 3.7 percent. In pharmacies and health goods stores, customers spent 2.5 percent less compared to last April.

Revenues from the sale and repair of motor vehicles increased by 6.3 percent year-on-year in April. Compared to March, however, they were still 1.3 percent lower. Customers paid 6.7 percent more for motor vehicles, including spare parts, than a year ago. Sales for repairs rose by 4.8 percent.