Turkey's retail trade volume shrinks in October

By Tuba Sahin

ANKARA (AA) - Calendar-adjusted retail sales volume with constant prices slipped 7.5 percent on a yearly basis in October, the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) revealed on Tuesday.

Non-food -- except automotive fuel -- sales showed the biggest annual drop among main economic activities with 12.1 percent, TurkStat reported.

Automotive fuel sales fell 7.6 percent while food, drinks and tobacco sales rose 1.6 percent.

The volume of medical goods and cosmetic sales among non-food went up 5 percent on an annual basis in October.

Sales by mail orders and internet climbed 4.5 percent while textile, clothing and footwear sales rose 2.8 percent, during the same period.

However, sales volume of the electronic goods and furniture shrank by 23.3 percent in the month, while computers, books, and telecommunications equipment's sales volume decreased 20.3 percent.

- Retail turnover was on rise in October

TurkStats also revealed that the calendar-adjusted retail turnover with current prices surged 18.2 percent year-on-year in October.

"In the same month, food, drinks and tobacco sales increased by 23 percent, non-food [except automotive fuel] sales increased by 14.8 percent, automotive fuel sales increased by 20.1 percent," it added.