Sales for the corresponding period in 2008 decreased by 0,3%. Retail trade sales, at constant (2008) prices, for July 2009 reflected a decrease of 3,9% compared with July 2008.

The major contributors to the decrease of 5,1% in retail trade sales, at constant (2008) prices, for the three months ended  July 2009  compared  with  the  three  months ended July 2008 were retailers in hardware, paint and glass (-18,2% and contributing -1,6 percentage points), general dealers (-3,9% and contributing -1,5 percentage points) and all other retailers (-9,0% and contributing -1,2 percentage points).

Retail trade sales, at current prices, for the three months ended July 2009 increased by 5,7% compared with the three months ended July 2008. The major contributors to this increase were general dealers (8,5% and contributing 3,2 percentage points) and retailers of food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores (11,9% and contributing 1,2 percentage points).

Retail trade sales, at current prices, for July 2009 increased by 6,7% compared with July 2008, while sales for the corresponding period in 2008 increased by 11,4%.