Retail Sales in Slovakia

Slovakia's retail sales measure the volume of goods sold by retail outlets, including food. Published by the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic (ŠÚSR), they are one of the most relevant indicators for tracking household consumption.

They are built from a survey of a broad sample of retailers on their turnover, from which an index against a base year is constructed. They are released in nominal and volume (deflated) terms, calendar- and seasonally adjusted, with year-on-year and month-on-month changes.

They give an early read on private consumption, the largest component of Slovakia's GDP, making them an input for growth estimates and for the ECB's reading of domestic demand in the euro area.

It is a volatile indicator, sensitive to seasonal factors, promotions and the calendar. Preliminary data are revised as more survey responses arrive, and it does not capture spending on services.