Press release dated 26/01/2011

LARGE STORES TRADE INDEX OF THE BASQUE COUNTRY (ICGS) DECEMBER 2010

Sales at large stores in the Basque Country fell by 5.3% in December 2010

Sales at large stores were up by 1.1% in 2010 overall compared to 2009

Sales in the large stores of the Basque Country in December 2010 experienced a nominal year-on-year downturn of 5.3% in homogenous terms of the working calendar, according to Eustat data. Sales of food products at large stores fell by a nominal year-on-year 2.2%, while the rest of the items were down by 6.9%.

Year-on-sales were down in the three provinces. They fell by 2.7% in Álava, by 6.1% in Bizkaia and were down by 5.1% in Gipuzkoa.

Sales for the Basque Country overall fell by 1.0% in nominal terms compared to November 2010. Sales of food products dropped by 1.3% compared to the previous month, while sales of other products fell by 0.8%.

By provinces and compared to November, total sales by large stores only increased in Álava, up by 2.1%. They fell by 0.2% in Bizkaia and were down by 3.9% in Bizkaia.

In constant terms, sales at large stores in the Basque Country registered a 7.9% year-on-year decrease and a 1.7% downturn on the previous month.

Compared to December 2009, sales of food products fell by 4.1%, while those of other products were down by 9.8% in constant euros. This figure fell in the three provinces. In Bizkaia, sales were down by 8.8% and they fell by 7.5% in Gipuzkoa, while the downturn was 5.5% in Álava, in constant terms.

Compared to the previous month, food product sales, once the price effect had been discounted, rose by 1.9% compared to November 2010 and the other products fell by 1.6%. By provinces, there was a 4.6% decrease in Gipuzkoa, the prices in Bizkaia fell by 0.9%, while there was a 1.3% upturn in Álava, in real terms.

The number of people employed in large stores was up by 0.1% in December 2010 on November once adjusted for seasonal effects. Bizkaia and Álava recorded positive variations (up 1.2% and 1.6%, respectively), but the number fell in Gipuzkoa (-3.1%).

ANNUAL BALANCE FOR 2010

Sales at large stores of the Basque Country posted nominal growth of 1.1% in the twelve months of 2010 compared to the previous year: Once the price effect has been discounted, this becomes a real rate of -0.5%, again in homogenous terms of the working calendar.

By provinces, the accumulated overall performances for 2010 were as follows: sales fell by 1.8% in Álava, by 0.8% in Bizkaia, but rose by 6.4% in Gipuzkoa in nominal terms. In real terms, they were down -3.5% in Álava, -2.4% in Bizkaia, while there was a 5.2% increase in Gipuzkoa.

For further information:

Basque Statistics Office C/ Donostia-San Sebastián, 1 01010 Vitoria-Gasteiz Tlf:+34-945-01 75 00 Fax:+34-945-01 75 01 E-mail: eustat@eustat.es Contact: Gerardo Pérez Aja T el:+34-945-01 75 06 F ax:+34-945-01 75 01 Further press releases on ICGS - large stores trade index of the Basque Country Databank on ICGS - large stores trade index of the Basque Country