Turkey: Retail sales volume narrows in May

Due to measures against COVID-19, Turkey's retail sales shrink 16.7% in May for 3 months in row

By Tuba Sahin

ANKARA (AA) – Going down for three consecutive months due to coronavirus-related measures, Turkey's retail sales volume narrowed 16.7% year-on-year in May, the country's statistical authority announced on Monday.

While food, drinks and tobacco sales saw an annual rise of 3% in May, non-food -- except automotive fuel -- slipped by 25.5%, according to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat). Data showed that automotive fuel sales also declined by 22.6% during the same period.

The volume of textile, clothing, and footwear sales fell the most among non-food items with 58.9% on an annual basis.

It was followed by computers, books and telecommunication equipment sales, down 28.4% and medical goods and cosmetic sales, down 10.9% compared to last May.

Sales by mail order and the internet soared 106.4% from the same period of last year.

Meanwhile, the retail sales volume with constant prices rose 3.8% in May compared with a month earlier.

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