Retail sales down by 7.7% in May

Poland’s retail sales at constant prices were 7.7 percent y-o-y lower in May, according to data published by the Central Statistical Office (GUS). Compared with April, retail sales for the month increased by 14.9 percent. Between January and May, retail sales were down 6.2 percent y-o-y. In May 2020 compared to the corresponding period of 2019 retail sales at constant prices decreased in most categories,including motor vehicles, motorcycles and parts (34 percent); solid, liquid and gaseous fuels (17.9 percent) and food, beverages and tobacco products (7.6 percent). Within groups with a smaller share of total retail sales, the largest decrease was noted in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and orthopaedic equipment (14.1 percent). An increase in sales was reported however by entities trading in furniture, radio, TV and household appliances by 14.4 percent and units classified under newspapers, books, other sales in specialized stores by 0.8 percent, according to GUS.