Press Release 26/04/2017

LARGE STORES AND FOOD CHAINS TRADE INDEX (IGSC), MARCH 2017

The sales index of large stores and food chains in the Basque Country rose by 4.4% in March 2017

The balance of the first three months of 2017 closed with 2.6% growth

Sales at large stores and food chains in the Basque Country in March 2017 experienced a year-on-year upturn at constant prices of 4.4% in homogenous terms of the working calendar, according to the new Large Stores and Food Chains Index created by Eustat. Compared to February, sales were up 0.7% in deseasonalised terms.

This new index was created with the aim of having an indicator of short-term trends in sales and employed personnel in the retail sector, specifically large stores and food chains.

Sales of food products at large stores and food chains reflected a rise of 5.3%, and sales corresponding to other items were also up by 2.5%.

There were increases in the three provinces: 3.5% in Álava, 4.0% in Bizkaia and 5.5% in Gipuzkoa.

Over the first quarter of the year as a whole, sales in large stores and food chains in the Basque Country were up 2.6% with respect to the same period of the previous year, in homogeneous terms of the working calendar and at constant prices. In this period, food sales at large stores and food chains saw a 3.5% upturn overall, and other products saw an increase of 0.9%.

By province, in Álava sales at large stores and food chains in the first quarter of the year rose by 1.3% at constant prices and with respect to the same period of the previous year. They were up in Bizkaia by 3.0%, and in Gipuzkoa a 2.4% rise was recorded.

The number of individuals employed in large stores and food chains in the Basque Country rose by 0.4% in March 2017 compared to February 2017, in deseasonalised terms.

Methodological note: The Large Stores and Food Chains Trade Index substitutes the Large Stores Trade Index, which was stopped in October 2016 because it did not reflect the monthly trends in trade as a whole, which was its original purpose when it was created in the 1990s. The new index incorporates a revision and extension of the reference framework, among other improvements. Together with data from March, the series since January 2015 have been made available, which is the base or reference year for calculating the indices.

For further information:

Eustat - Euskal Estatistika Erakundea / Basque Statistics Institute C/ Donostia-San Sebastián, 1 01010 Vitoria-Gasteiz Press Service: servicioprensa@eustat.eus Tel: 945 01 75 62 Further press releases on the Large Stores and Food Chains Trade Index (IGSC) Databank on the Large Stores and Food Chains Trade Index (IGSC)