In May 2020 value of Istat retail trade index rose by 24.3% in the month on month series, after plummeting at record levels in March and April, due to restrictions and temporary closure of stores during Covid-19 pandemic.
Volume of sales grew by 25.2% when compared to the previous month.
Despite the increase in the month on month series, the underlying pattern in the three months to May 2020 shows a decline, as both value and volume of sales fell by 20.6% and 21.8% respectively.
When compared with May 2019, the value of sales dropped by 10.5% and the volume was down 11.9%
Internet sales increased by 41.7% when compared with the same month a year earlier, the highest growth on record, suggesting a shift within the retail trade to online sales.
Looking at the value of sales for non-food products, a fall was seen across most of the categories in the year on year series.
This drop resulted in low levels for Clothing (-38.1%), Optical instruments and photographic equipment (-37.4%), Shoes, leather goods and travel items (-34.8%). Growths were registered for Computers and telecommunications equipment (+12.4%) and Tools (+5.6%).
