Retail sales in March 2021 recorded "a substantial economic stagnation".
Istat recorded a decrease of 0.1% in value compared to February and an increase of 0.1% in volume.
In the first quarter as a whole, retail sales increased by 0.2% in value and decreased by 0.3% in volume compared to the previous quarter.
From March 2020, the first month of the lockdown, there is "a very strong trend increase that reflects the particularly depressed levels" of that month, explains Istat, with sales increases of 22.9% in value and 23.5 % by volume and record for almost all non-food products.
Compared to March 2020 non-food goods that recorded a jump of 49.7% in value and 50.3% in volume while; sales of food products also increased, albeit to a lesser extent (+ 3.7% in value and volume). Compared to February 2021 there is a growth for food goods (+ 1.9% in value and + 1.7% in volume) and a decrease for non-food products (-1.6% in value and -1, 1% by volume). Among non-food goods, in particular the sales of games, toys, sports and camping show + 110.7% on an annual basis and those of photo-optics and films, magnetic supports, musical instruments + 109.2%. Also leading the ranking of increases are footwear, leather and travel items (+ 94.2%), clothing and fur (+ 93.9%), followed by furniture and household appliances. For pharmaceutical products there was a minor growth (+0,7%). Sales grew in all distribution channels: large-scale distribution (+ 17.0%), companies operating on small surfaces (+ 27.8%) and sales outside the shops (+ 43.8%). The rise of e-commerce also continues (+ 39.9%).
