Turkiye's retail sales volume up 6.2% in February

By Tuba Sahin

ANKARA (AA) – Turkiye’s retail sales volume, a marker of growing consumer spending, rose 2.5% year-on-year in March, the country's statistical authority announced Friday.

Automotive gasoline sales saw the largest annual rise in the month, up 12.4%. This was followed by food, drinks and tobacco and non-food (except automotive fuel) sales with 6.4% and 5.7%, respectively.

Among non-food items, textile, apparel, and footwear sales rose the most, jumping 15.8%, followed by medical goods and cosmetics, up 7%.

Sales by mail order and the internet surged 26.4% from a year ago in March.

On a monthly basis, Turkiye’s retail sales volume rose by 0.5% in March with food, drinks and tobacco sales rising the most.

Drinks and tobacco sales increased by 4.3% month-on-month and non-food (except automotive fuel) slightly up by 0.1%. On the other hand automotive fuel sales decreased by 5.1% from a month ago in March.