Turkish retail sales up 2.1 pct in March

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish retail sales grew 2.1 percent in March from the previous month, boosted by rises in electronics, furniture, textiles, clothing and footwear sales, the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) said Tuesday.

Electronic goods and furniture sales climbed 5.3 percent, textiles, clothing and footwear sales rose 4.6 percent, and medical goods and cosmetic sales were up 2.8 percent, the institute said in a statement.

Mail order and Internet sales rose 2.4 percent in March compared to the previous month.

In the same month, non-food (except automotive fuel) sales grew 3.6 percent, and automotive fuel sales climbed 2.7 percent, while food, drink, and tobacco sales fell 1.2 percent.

Calendar-adjusted retail turnover with current prices increased 13.9 percent in March 2017 compared with the same month last year, it added.