In March, a zero change is estimated for retail sales in value while those in volume are down
(-0.3%) compared to the previous month.
Sales in value are stationary for both food and non-food goods, while sales in volume are down for both sectors (-0.7% and -0.1% respectively).
Istat indicates it.
In the annual comparison
, on the other hand, retail sales increased by 5.8% in value and decreased in volume by 2.9%.
Similar trends were recorded both for sales of food (+7.7% in value and -4.9% in volume) and for non-food (+4.1% in value and -1.3% by volume).
In the third month of the year, the value of retail sales is growing for all forms of sale, compared to the year: large-scale retail trade (+7.8%), businesses operating on small surfaces, i.e. shops and convenience stores, (+3.5%), sales outside stores (+4.6%)
and above all electronic commerce (+10.3%)
.
This is indicated by Istat data on monthly retail sales.
In the first quarter of the year, retail sales grew in value (+1.9%) and decreased in volume (-0.1%) compared to the previous quarter, Istat
indicates, adding that food sales are in increase in value (+2.3%) and do not undergo changes in volume, those of non-food goods grow in value (+1.5%) and decrease slightly in volume (-0.1%).
Coldiretti's analysis
Expensive prices cut the quantities of food products purchased by Italians by 4.7% in 2023, who are however forced to spend 7.7% more due to the increases caused by the energy crisis.
It emerges from the Coldiretti analysis on Istat data relating to retail trade in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the same period of the previous year.
According to the Agricultural Confederation, families also hunt for the lowest prices by slaloming at the point of sale, changing shops, supermarkets or discounters in search of promotions for different products.
Consumers
Data on retail sales show how "high prices continue to affect the habits of Italians, with families spending more and more to buy less".
This was stated by
Codacons
, underlining that "even in March sales recorded yet another vertical collapse in volume, with a contraction on an annual basis of 2.9% against an increase in value of as much as +5.8%".
According to Codacons, this means that, "net of inflation and considering household consumption expenditure, purchases fall in volume for a total of 21.8 billion euros per year, with lower spending equal to an average of -848 euros per family ".
"The country is at a standstill. Although inflation is always galloping, sales in value remain at a standstill. Even more worrying are the data purified from the optical effect of prices. The slimming cure of Italians continues. A forced diet due to lunar prices , price increases that are now unjustified, the result of pure and simple speculation".
Thus
the National Union of Consumers
commenting on the Istat data.
Translating the decrease in volumes consumed into euros, it can be estimated that food expenses have decreased by an average of 276 euros per family at 2021 prices", says the president Massimiliano Dona.
Data on retail sales for March "demonstrate the effect that inflation still has on Italian families today".
This was stated by
Assoutenti
, commenting on the Istat data on trade.
"To face the high prices, families continue to cut primary expenses such as food", remarked the president Furio Truzzi.