According to preliminary data, in June 2010 the turnover in the trade sector decreased by 10.5 per cent from the same month a year ago, the National Statistical Institute reported on Tuesday.

Retail trade (except of motor vehicles and motorcycles) showed a 6.8 per cent contraction as a result of the disparate rates of the composite activities. While retail of food, beverages and tobacco grew 1.0 per cent, retail of automotive fuel in specialized store dropped 5.3 per cent and retail of medical and orthopaedic goods, cosmetic and toilet articles 5.9 per cent, both being below the average.

A 17.9 per cent dive of retail of computers, peripherals and software, telecommunication equipment etc. had a negative impact on the index but this decline persistently tends to decelerate.

Wholesale trade (except of motor vehicles and motorcycles) dropped 10.4 per cent as a result of the negative rates of all composite activities.

The contraction ranged from 4.7 per cent for wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco to 29.3 per cent for wholesale of other machinery, equipment and supplies. A decisive impact on the overall index, though, was exerted by a 9.5 per cent decline in wholesale of non-agricultural intermediate goods, as this activity accounts for some 40 per cent of the volume of the turnover.

Wholesale and retail of motor vehicles and motorcycles dropped by as much as 25.8 per cent, but the automotive market showed some signs of recovery, the NSI said.

In June 2010 the turnover grew by 5.8 per cent from May as a result of the positive rates in the three major trade activities. In wholesale trade (except of motor vehicles and motorcycles), the growth reached 6.4 per cent, while in retail trade (except of motor vehicles and motorcycles) and in wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, the growth rates were almost identical: 4.4 per cent and 4.5 per cent, respectively.

In January - June 2010, the trade sector turnover declined by 14.7 per cent compared to the same period of 2009. The rates were again negative, but the declines in the three main trade activities continued to decelerate. Retail trade (except of motor vehicles and motorcycles) dropped 10.5 per cent, wholesale trade (except of motor vehicles and motorcycles) 14.2 per cent, and wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles 32.7 per cent.

Source: BTA