Turkey: Retail sales volume up 7.8% in September

By Aysu Bicer

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey’s retail sales volume with constant prices increased by 7.8% year-on-year in September, according to official figures released on Friday.

During the month, the highest annual increase was posted by food, drinks and tobacco sales with 9.2%, the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) said.

This followed by non-food (except automotive fuel) and automotive sales with a 9% and 3.2% rise, respectively.

Among non-food indices, the highest increase was seen in electronic goods and furniture sales with 17.4%, while computers, books, telecommunications equipment sales expanded by 8.8% and medical goods and cosmetic sales grew by 13.1% in September year-on-year.

The volume of textile, clothing and footwear sales dropped by 7.5% in September.

Meanwhile, sales by mail orders and internet climbed by 88.4% year-on-year in the month.

Retail sales volume was also up by 2.8% on a monthly basis.

- Retail turnover on rise in September

TurkStat also revealed that the calendar-adjusted retail turnover with current prices jumped by 20.7% in September compared to the same month last year.

"In the same month food, drinks and tobacco sales increased by 22.1%, non-food (except automotive fuel) sales increased by 25.8%, automotive fuel sales increased by 5.2%," it added.