The seasonally adjusted index of retail sales in October, according to Istat, showed a cyclical decline by 1%, the fourth in a row on a monthly basis. Compared to September, sales decreased by 1,3% for food products and 1% for non-food products. On average for the August-October quarter, the index recorded a decrease of 0,5% compared to the previous quarter.
On an annual basis, the raw sales index scores a even greater drop, equal to 3,8%. The contraction in the sales of non-food products was particularly marked, -4%. As regards the form of distribution, compared to October 2011, both large (-4,8%) and small distribution (-3,0%) decreased.
Compared to the first ten months of last year, in 2012 the raw index showed a decrease of 1,9%, mainly due to the marked decline in sales of non-food products (-2,5%).
