Slovak Retail Sales Drop in April

Retail sales in Slovakia fell 10.1% year-on-year in April, the largest contraction since February 2021, following a 6% fall in the previous month, according to figures from the Slovak Statistical Office (SÚSR).
Sales dropped at faster pace for stalls & markets (-29.6% vs -21.5% in March), food, beverages & tobacco in specialized stores (-16.1% vs -9.3%), sales not in stores, stalls or markets (-13.6% vs -4.3%), other goods in specialized stores (-8.6% vs -4.9%), non–specialized stores (-9.8% vs -5.8%).
At the same time, sales of automotive fuel in specialized stores continued to ease (29.1% vs 30.3%).
Meanwhile, sales rebounded for cultural & recreational goods in specialized stores (0.3% vs -0.5%), while fell softer for other household equipment in specialized stores (-21.8% vs -24.3%). On a monthly basis, retail activity slumped 5% in April, following a 0.2% fall in the previous month.
A separate report from the Bratislava-based statistics agency showed, that Slovakia's gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 1% annually in the first quarter of 2023, revised slightly higher than the flash estimate of 0.9%, but easing from a 1.2% rise in the fourth quarter of 2022.
On a seasonally adjusted quarterly basis, the economy expanded 0.3%, the same as in the previous two quarters.
ADVERTISEMENT
SUPPORT THE BUDAPEST BUSINESS JOURNAL
Producing journalism that is worthy of the name is a costly business. For 27 years, the publishers, editors and reporters of the Budapest Business Journal have striven to bring you business news that works, information that you can trust, that is factual, accurate and presented without fear or favor.
Newspaper organizations across the globe have struggled to find a business model that allows them to continue to excel, without compromising their ability to perform. Most recently, some have experimented with the idea of involving their most important stakeholders, their readers.
We would like to offer that same opportunity to our readers. We would like to invite you to help us deliver the quality business journalism you require. Hit our Support the BBJ button and you can choose the how much and how often you send us your contributions.