Retail sales rose a working-day 4.6% year-on-year in February, after a 9.4% growth in January.

In February, sales growth eased sharply for non-food products (9.8% vs 15.2% in January) and to a lesser extent, for food, beverages and tobacco (-3.8% vs 1.2%). In contrast, sales of automotive fuel went up at a faster pace (12.3% vs 11%).

On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail sales stagnated, after an upwardly revised 2.2% rise in the prior month.