Retail sales, excluding VAT (value-added tax), fell a calendar-adjusted 0.9% year-on-year in May, after a 2.7% increase in April.

The sale of food, alcoholic beverages, and tobacco decreased 5.3% annually in May, and sales of mail orders or online sales declined 9.6%. Retail sales, excluding motor vehicles and motorcycles, fell 2%. On a monthly basis, retail sales declined a seasonally and calendar-adjusted 0.5% in May.