Retail Sales Decrease 7.8% In April 2018
After adjusting for the retail sales rate of inflation, measured at 2.7% in April – the overall volume of retail sales weakened 7.8%, according to the recently released Retail Sales Index.
“Five of the seven retail sectors recorded declines in sales volume with the largest sales volume decrease being reported for liquor stores at 19.4%,” the report said.
Chart extracted from the report:
“During April 2018, the volume of sales for liquor stores and food stores declined 19.4 per cent and 10.2 per cent, respectively. In value terms, sales at liquor stores declined 14.8 per cent while food sales weakened 6.2 per cent. Retailers attributed the negative sales growth to the Good Friday holiday being observed during March in 2018 and April in 2017.
“The sales volume of apparel stores decreased 10.6 per cent. Retailers noted the timing of the Easter holiday and a shortened sales day during the hosting of the triathlon as reasons for the decline.”
The full 2018 April Retail Sales Index is below [PDF here]:
Slowly sliding back to pre-OBA levels. Well done. Hope Burt brings this up in his press conference this evening.
Agreed.
Has anyone else noticed the number of $2m+ houses that have come on the market lately?
It is important to know if the AC had an impact in April – there would have been some as some of the crews etc were here, but how much?
The 2016 and 2015 April results are also higher than the 2018 ones.
Sliding back to a Paula Cox-era economy. Disaster.
This large drop in Retail Sales is very concerning especially as it’s lower than 2015 & 2016 as well as 2017. Unfortunately
Premier Burt tends to ignore and not comment upon anything seen to be negative under his almost dictatorial Teflon style anti-SSM Leadership
This in the honeymoon year for PLP. The slide has begun sooner than people thought.
Well since we’re going downhill, enjoy the ride.