Turnover in wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles dropped 16.8 per cent in November 2009 from a year earlier, the National Statistical Institute said on Monday.

Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles, fell by 10.1 per cent, as a result of a reduction in all observed groups except the retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco, which increased by a mere 0.9 per cent. At 0.8 per cent, the drop was negligible in dispensing chemists; retail sale of medical and orthopaedic goods, cosmetic and toilet articles in specialized stores. An insignificant decrease by 2.9 per cent was registered in the retail sales of automotive fuel in specialized stores.

The last two groups formed about 30 per cent of turnover volume.

Two other composite groups - retail sale of computers, peripheral units and software; telecommunications equipment, etc. in specialized stores and retail sale of audio and video equipment; hardware, paints and glass; electrical household appliances, etc. in specialized stores - also accounted for approximately 30 per cent, but the registered decreases in them were 23.9 per cent and 19.8 per cent respectively.

A drop by 15.5 per cent was registered in wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles. High growth, by 35.7 per cent, was observed in the wholesale of agricultural raw materials and live animals. The drop was negligible at 3.1 per cent in the wholesale of household goods, while in the wholesale of other machinery, equipment and supplies and in other specialized wholesale the decrease was 36.0 per cent and 23.1 per cent, respectively. The two activities formed about 30 per cent of the volume of turnover.

At 43.1 per cent the decrease was largest in wholesale and retail trade and the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles. It was mainly due to the registered drop in the sale of motor vehicles; sale and repair of motorcycles by 43.5 per cent, as this activity formed about 93 per cent of turnover volume.

Source: BTA