Turkey: Retail sales volume up 11% in December

By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL (AA) - The retail sales volume with constant prices in Turkey increased by 11% year-on-year in December 2019, according to official figures released on Thursday.

In the month, the highest annual rise was seen in non-food sales -- except automotive fuel -- with 15.5%, the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) said.

The institute noted that automotive fuel sales, and food, drinks and tobacco sales followed it with 7.8% and 5.3%, respectively, year-on-year in December.

Among non-food, the volume of computers, books, telecommunications equipment rose 21.9%, while textile, clothing and footwear sales climbed 17.8%, medical goods and cosmetic sales went up 8.9%, and electronic goods and furniture sales increased by 5.7% in the same period.

Sales by mail orders and internet climbed 56% year-on-year in December.

- Retail turnover on rise in October

TurkStat also revealed that the calendar-adjusted retail turnover with current prices jumped 1.8% in December, on an annual basis.

"In the same month food, drinks and tobacco sales increased by 1.2%, non-food (except automotive fuel) sales increased by 2.1%, automotive fuel sales increased by 2.3%," it added.