Index of wholesale and retail sales, July 2004

Retail sales figures exclude motor vehicles and petrol.

The volume index of retail sales increased by 2.3 per cent in July compared with July last year. Retail sales not in stores, including mail order companies, increased by 9.2 per cent during this period, and retail sales of food, beverages and tobacco in specialized stores increased by 7.2 per cent. The volume sales of new goods in specialized stores increased by 4.2 per cent during this period. Sales of new goods in specialized stores include clothing, shoes, electrical goods, furniture and building materials. Retail sales of pharmaceutical and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries increased by 2.3 per cent. The volume index of retail sales in non-specialized stores, which mainly include food stores, fell by 0.2 per cent during this period.

Sales of food, beverages and tobacco increased

The value index of retail sales of food, beverages and tobacco in specialized stores increased by 11.5 per cent in July compared with July last year. Retail sales not in stores increased by 7.9 per cent during this period. Sales of new goods in specialized stores increased by 2.5 per cent in July compared with July last year. The value indices of retail sale in non-specialized stores and retail sale of pharmaceutical and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries showed the lowest growth by 1.6 and 1.0 per cent respectively during this period. The value index of retail sales increased by 2.5 per cent in July compared with July last year.

International comparison

A comparison of seasonally adjusted retail sales volume indices shows that Norway experienced a 4.7 per cent increase from May to June 2004, while the corresponding growth in Denmark and Sweden was 3.4 and 1.2 per cent respectively.