Retail trade – December 2021

08.02.2022

Code: 120019-21

In December, sales adjusted for calendar effects increased by 1.5% in real terms (at constant prices), year on year (yy). Unadjusted sales increased 3.3% year-over-year. Seasonally adjusted retail sales fell 1.0%, month over month (mom).
For the whole of 2021, unadjusted retail sales increased by 4.4%.

Seasonally adjusted retail sales, excluding motor vehicles¹⁾ fell in real terms (at constant prices) by 1.0%, mom, in December. Sales for the sale of automotive fuel decreased by 2.4%, sales for the sale of non-food goods by 1.2% and sales for the sale of food decreased by 0.4%.

Calendar-adjusted retail sales rose 1.5% year-on-year. Sales for the sale of automotive fuel increased by 4.7% and those for the sale of non-food goods by 2.1%, while sales for the sale of food decreased by 0.2% . December 2021 had one more working day compared to December 2020.

Unadjusted retail sales rose 3.3% year-on-year. Sales for the sale of automotive fuel increased by 6.0%, sales for the sale of non-food goods by 3.9% and sales for the sale of food increased by 1.6%.

The largest share of the total increase in sales in December belonged to online stores²⁾ (sales growth of 8.6%). In specialized non-food goods stores, sales increased in dispensary pharmacies and retail trade of medical and orthopedic equipment in specialized stores (+11.6%), retail trade of cultural and leisure goods in specialized stores (+6.7%) and the retail sale of cosmetics and toiletries in specialized stores (+4.4%). On the other hand, the retail trade of other household equipment in specialized stores (by 2.1%), the retail trade of clothing, footwear and leather goods in specialized stores (by 2.7%) and the retail trade information and communication services recorded a drop in sales. equipment in specialized stores (+6.8%). Sales of food products increased both in the retail trade of food products, beverages and tobacco in specialized stores (+8.7%) and in the retail trade in non-specialized stores predominantly of food products, beverages or tobacco (by 1.3%).

The price deflator in retail trade excluding motor vehicles and motorcycles relating to the corresponding period of the previous year (excluding VAT) was 107.8%. It was mainly influenced by higher prices for motor fuel, clothing, footwear and leather goods, other household equipment, cultural and leisure goods, information and communication equipment, food , pharmacies, medical and orthopedic products and cosmetics and toiletries.

Seasonally adjusted sales for sale and repair of motor vehicles³⁾ decreases in real terms (at constant prices) 3.0%, momand sales adjusted for calendar effects decreased by 5.1%, yoy. Not adjusted sales decreased by 1.7%, yoy; sales for the sale of motor vehicles (including spare parts) decreased by 5.5%, year-on-year, while sales for the repair of motor vehicles increased by 10.9%, year-on-year.

Development in the fourth quarter of 2021
For all of Q4 2021, Sales in retail trade, except motor vehicles¹⁾ adjusted for calendar effects increases in real terms(at constant prices) 6.6%, yoy. Not adjusted sales increased by 7.2% (there was one more working day in Q4 2021 compared to the corresponding period of the previous year). Unadjusted sales to the sale of non-food goods increased by 11.5%, year-on-year, and sales to the sale of automotive fuel by 10.3%, year-on-year, while sales to food sales fell 0.2% year-on-year. In the automotive industry³⁾Sales adjusted for calendar effects decreases in real terms (at constant prices) by 4.9%, yoy. Not adjusted sales fell 3.8% year-on-year. Unadjusted sales for the sale of motor vehicles (including spare parts) fell 6.8%, year-on-year, while sales for the repair of motor vehicles rose 8.4%, year-on-year annual.

Development in 2021
For the whole year 2021Sales in retail trade, except motor vehicles¹⁾ adjusted for calendar effects increases in real terms(at constant prices) 4.5%, yoy; unadjusted sales increased by 4.4%. Unadjusted sales for the sale of non-food goods increased by 8.2%, sales for the sale of automotive fuel increased by 3.4%, while sales for the sale of food decreased by 0.4%. The strongest sales growth was recorded for retail sales via mail order houses or via the Internet of 16.3%. Compared to 2020, higher sales were reported by all non-food assortment types. Sales increased in the retail trade of information and communication equipment in specialized stores by 6.9%, in the retail trade of cosmetics and toiletries in specialized stores by 6.5%, in the retail sale of clothing, footwear and leather goods in specialized stores by 4.7%, retail sale of other household equipment in specialized stores by 4.6%, retail sale of pharmacy items, medicine and orthopedics in specialized stores by 4.4% and the retail trade of cultural and leisure items in specialized stores by 3.2%. Specialty food, beverage and tobacco retailing also recorded sales growth of 0.5%. In contrast, non-specialty stores predominantly selling food, beverages or tobacco saw sales decline 0.5%. The average price deflator for the year 2021 was 103.5%.

In the automotive segment³⁾Sales adjusted for calendar effects increases in real terms (at constant prices) 8.3%, y‑o‑y; unadjusted sales increased 8.6% year-on-year. Unadjusted motor vehicle repair sales were up 10.0% year-over-year, and motor vehicle sales (including parts) were up 8.2% year-on-year.

An international comparison of retail sales developments in EU Member States is available at: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/short-term-business-statistics/publications .

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¹⁾ CZ-NACE 47 – retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles
²⁾ CZ-NACE 4791 – retail sale via mail order houses or via the Internet
³⁾ CZ-NACE 45 – wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles