Italy’s retail sales fall in January

Rome, Mar. 8, (dpa-AFX/GNA) – Italy’s retail sales declined in January, after rising in the previous month, data from the statistical office Istat showed on Tuesday.

The retail sales value decreased 0.5% month-on-month in January, after a 0.8% growth in December. Economists had expected a rise of 1.1%.

Food sales fell 0.1% monthly in January, while non-food product sales declined 0.8%.

On a yearly basis, the retail sales value rose 8.4% in January, after a 9.8% growth in the previous month. The pace of growth slowed for a second straight month.

In volume terms, retail sales decreased 0.7% monthly in January, after a 0.4% gain in the prior month. The annual growth eased to 7.3% from 8.2% a month ago.

GNA