Turkey: Retail sales volume soared in November

By Yunus Girgin

ISTANBUL (AA) - Retail sales volume with constant prices in the Turkish economy jumped 11.9% year-on-year in November, according to official figures released on Monday.

During the month, the highest annual hike was seen in non-food – except automotive fuel – sales, which surged 13.8%, the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) said.

Food, drink, and tobacco sales and automotive fuel sales followed with rises of 11.4% and 7.5%, respectively.

Among non-food items, the volume of electronic goods and furniture sales rose 17.2%, and computers, books, and telecommunication equipment sales climbed 12%.

The categories of medical goods and cosmetics sales and textile, clothing, and footwear sales followed with rises of 9.6% and 4%, respectively.

Meanwhile, sales by mail order and the internet climbed 69.8% year-on-year in November, with shoppers opting to shop from home due to the coronavirus pandemic.

- Retail turnover on rise in November

TurkStat also said calendar-adjusted retail turnover with current prices jumped 26.1% in November on a yearly basis.

"In the same month, food, drink, and tobacco sales increased by 28.3%, non-food (except automotive fuel) sales increased by 32.2%, automotive fuel sales increased by 5.7%," it added.