Sharp decline for the retail trade. In April, according to data released by Istat, the seasonally adjusted index of retail sales marked a downward trend of 6,8%, the worst since January 2001, when the time series began. Sales of food products decreased by 6,1%, those of non-food products by 7,1%. The economic downturn is equal to 1,6%.
In comparison with March 2012, sales decreased by 1,5% for both food and non-food products. Sales by distribution form show, in comparison with April 2011, a marked contraction both for large-scale distribution (-4,3%) and for companies operating on small surfaces (-8,6%). In the first four months of 2012, compared to the same period of 2011, the raw index decreased by 1,6%. Sales of food products decreased by 0,2% and those of non-food products by 2,2%.
