Retail sales, except motor vehicles and motorcycles, rose a calendar-adjusted 6.1% year-on-year in March, much faster than the 2.5% increase in the previous month.

Sales of non-food products grew 7.7% and those of food, beverages, and tobacco increased by 4%.

Retail sales of automotive fuel in specialized stores increased by 6.7%, and sales and repairs of motor vehicles and motorcycles climbed by 4.8%.

Data also showed that retail sales via mail order or the internet advanced 14.9%.

On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail trade rose 1.3% in March, rebounding from a downwardly revised 0.3% fall in the previous month.