The retail trade sector of the A.C. of the Basque Country increased nominal sales by 2.1% in the fourth quarter of 2006 with regard to the same period the year before, according to Eustat data. This nominal increase, discounting the effect of price rises, also becomes a positive inter-annual evolution of 0.2% in real terms.

Real rates of inter-annual growth. A.C. of Euskadi

Source: EUSTAT

Specialised retail trade increased nominal sales by 2.5% in the fourth quarter of 2006, with regard to the same period in 2005. This nominal increase, as a result of the evolution of the prices of the different subsectors, becomes a real 1.1% growth rate.

Retail trade at medium and large stores (non-specialised) increased in the fourth quarter of the year by 1.5% in nominal terms. Bearing in mind the evolution in prices, the estimated variation in the inter-annual rate was -1.7% with regard to the same quarter of 2005.

Specialised retail trade saw the highest inter-annual growth rate in the sector of Personal Equipment, which registered 4% nominal growth, which in real terms was a negative rate of -2.4%. Food, however, developed more discretely, with 3.6% in current euros and the evolution was estimated to be -0.7% in constant euros. Sales of products of Other Consumer Goods increased by 1.3% in nominal terms, and became a 1.8% increase in real terms. Sales of Household Equipment goods increased by 0.7% in nominal terms, which becomes a -1.5% decrease in real terms. In the section of non-specialised medium and large stores, the predominantly food based sub sectors increased inter-annual sales by 1.6%, which sales of Other Products obtained a 0.7%. increase. In constant euros they decreased by -1.7% and -1.4% respectively.

By Provinces, the highest growth, in the fourth quarter of 2006, in retail sector nominal sales corresponded to Álava, with an 4.2% inter-annual increase, specialised retail trade sales rising 6.6% and non-specialised retail trade sales decreasing by -0.3%.

Gipuzkoa registered similar inter-annual provincial growth in sale of retail trade to Álava; the rise was 4.1%, this increase being 5.8% for specialised retail trade and a 0.7% increase for non-specialised trade.

Bizkaia obtained a lower evolution in retail trade sales with a 0.6% increase, registering a -0.4% decrease in specialised trade sales and a 2.3% increase in sales at medium and large non-specialised stores, in terms of nominal inter-annual variation.

Growth in employment in the retail trade sector in the fourth quarter of 2006 grew by 1.1% on the third quarter of 2006 for the whole of the A.C. of the Basque Country.

ANNUAL BALANCE 2006

Over the whole of the year retail trade sales registered 4.6% accumulated nominal growth, which in real terms represented a 2.7% increase.

By provinces, Álava registered the highest growth over the year, with 8.9%, followed by Bizkaia with 4.3% and Gipuzkoa with 3.4%, all of which are nominal rates. In real terms, growth in the three provinces was 6.5% for Álava, 2.5% for Bizkaia and 1.7% for Gipuzkoa.

Accumulated growth in employment in the retail trade sector on the average for the previous year was 1.1% and was reflected provincially as follows: Álava 1.3%, Bizkaia 1.1% and Gipuzkoa 0.9%.