Retail sales, excluding VAT (value added tax), fell a calendar-adjusted 2.2% year-on-year in August, following a 4% decrease in July.

Sales of food, alcoholic beverages, and tobacco decreased 5.5% annually in August and those of non-food items fell 3.8%.

Sales of mail orders or online sales declined 6.3%. Retail sales, excluding motor vehicles and motorcycles, fell 4.5%. On a monthly basis, retail sales rose a seasonally and calendar-adjusted 0.7% in August.