Retail sales increased by 7.7% in July compared to the same month in 2022 and add up to eight uninterrupted months in positive annual rates, as reported on Tuesday by the National Statistics Institute (INE).
The rise in July is eight tenths above that registered in June and is the highest since March, when trade turnover grew by 10%. Correcting for seasonal and calendar effects, the rise in July is 7.3%, eight tenths higher than in June.
Without accounting for service stations, growth is 9.1% in July. By product type, Food rises 1.8% and Others 17.6%and by means of distribution, the ones that increased their income the most are the large chains (14%), followed by small chains (12.3%), department stores (5.8%) and single-location companies (4.6%) .
Sales rise in annual rate in all autonomous communities in July. Comunidad de Madrid (12%), Islas Baleares (10.2%) and Comunidad Valenciana (8.9%) recorded the highest increases, with Extremadura (2.5%), Castilla y León (2.8%) and Comunidad Foral de Navarra (3.5%) with the smallest increases.
On the other hand, the occupancy rate in the retail trade sector presented in July a variation of 1.9% compared to the same month of 2022. This rate is three tenths below that registered in June. At service stations, occupancy increased by 1.8%. Retail trade employment increases in 13 communities at an annual rate. Catalonia registers the greatest increase (4.9%).
For its part, the monthly variation of the General Retail Trade Index at constant prices between the months of July and June, eliminating seasonal and calendar effects, was 0.2%. This rate is one tenth lower than that of the previous month.
The general index without service stations registered a monthly rate of 0.4%. By products, Food rose 0.3% and Rest 1.0%. If the latter is broken down by type of product, Home equipment is the one that increased the most (1.5%).
All distribution modes present positive monthly rates, except Single-location companies, which fell by 0.5%).The greatest increase occurs in Small chains (1.7%).
