Türkiye's retail sales grow at fastest pace in 1-year

By Tuba Sahin

ANKARA (AA) - Türkiye’s retail sales volume, a marker of growing consumer spending, rose this May at a fastest pace in a year, according to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) on Thursday.

The main reading jumped 20.8% on an annual basis in May, TurkStat said.

Non-food sales – excluding automotive fuel – soared 34.9%, with textile, clothing, and footwear sales posting the largest rise among non-food items, up 58.2% in May from a year ago.

Food, drinks, and tobacco sales rose 5.1%, while automotive fuel sales jumped by 10.9% in May.

In the same month, food, drinks, and tobacco sales increased by 2.8%, non-food (except automotive fuel) sales decreased by 0.3%, and automotive fuel sales rose by 7.8%.

On a monthly basis, Türkiye’s retail trade edged up 1.9% this May.

While food, drinks, and tobacco, and automotive fuel sales rose by 2.8% and 7.8%, respectively, in May, non-food sales decreased 0.3% month-on-month.

Among non-food items, the largest decline was seen in sales via mail orders and internet, which was down 7.5% from a month ago.