(ANSA) - ROME, APRIL 09 - In February 2021, Istat recorded for retail sales "a broad economic growth, driven by sales of non-food goods, a significant recovery compared to the depressed levels of the last three months".
The increase in sales, compared to the previous month, is 6.6% in value and 7.2% in volume.
On an annual basis, however, "a marked decline remains", of 5.7% in value and 7% in volume.
The trend trend regards food and non-food goods, in large-scale distribution as well as in small shops.
The contraction in sales in February 2021 also affects food discounters for the first time in almost two years.
Istat estimates a decrease of 1.5% compared to the previous year, the first since March 2019 for these stores.
Compared to February 2020, the value of sales decreases in almost all distribution channels and "only e-commerce shows a strong increase" of 35.8%, read the flash statistics.
Large distribution loses 5.8% of sales, businesses operating on small surfaces 7.6% and sales outside of shops, such as street traders, 6.6%.
In this context of widespread decreases, among the products, the sales of equipment for information technology, telecommunications, telephony (+ 12% per year) and household appliances, radios, TVs and recorders (+ 8.9%) are exceptions.
While the greatest decreases concerned footwear, leather and travel items (-12.7%) and pharmaceutical products (-12.3%).
(HANDLE).
