Press Release 14/02/2022
SERVICE SECTOR INDEX. TRADE. IV/2021
Sales in the Trade sector in the Basque Country rose by 6.0% in 2021 as a whole
Trade also experienced a positive trend in the fourth quarter of the year, with a year-on-year increase of 2.3% in sales
In 2021 as a whole, sales in the Trade sector, which encompasses wholesale and retail trade and the sale and repair of vehicles, increased by 6.0% at constant prices, according to Eustat data.
Both wholesale and retail trade obtained positive results in 2021 as a whole compared to the previous year, with growth of 9.2% and 3.6%, respectively. In contrast, sales in the branch of Sale & Repair of Motor Vehicles fell by 1.2% in 2021.
Sales recovered in all three provinces over the course of 2021. Of particular note was Álava, where sales at constant prices grew by 7.0%. In Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa, the trend was similar throughout the year, with cumulative annual rises in sales of 5.9% and 5.6%, respectively.
In 2021 as a whole, the number of people employed in the Trade sector registered an increase of 0.1% on the average for the previous year.
Looking at data from the fourth quarter of 2021 alone, in real terms and once corrected for calendar effects, Trade sector sales in the Basque Country posted a 2.3% rise compared to the same quarter of the previous year.
With regard to the previous quarter, and once any seasonal effects had been eliminated, the Trade sector also recorded growth of 0.3% at constant prices in the last quarter of the year.
Within Trade, the year-on-year evolution was positive in both Wholesale Trade and Retail Trade, with year-on-year increases of 4.6% and 3.3%, respectively. As regards the Sale & Repair of Motor Vehicles sector, sales were down 13.8% in relation to the fourth quarter of the previous year.
The year-on-year comparison for the fourth quarter of 2021 was positive in the three provinces. Sales at constant prices rose by 3.3% in Gipuzkoa, 2.1% in Bizkaia and 0.9% in Álava.
Lastly, the index of people employed in the Trade sector in the Basque Country saw a positive variation of 2.1% in the last quarter of 2021 compared to the last quarter of 2020, although it fell by 0.1% in respect of the previous quarter.
Service index of the Basque Country. Trade. Provisional data. 2021/IV
| | Constant prices |
| | t / t-4 | t / t-1 | A (t) / A (t-4) |
| GENERAL INDEX | 2,3 | 0,3 | 6,0 |
| Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles | -13,8 | -3,0 | -1,2 |
| Wholesale trade | 4,6 | 0,5 | 9,2 |
| Retail trade | 3,3 | 1,1 | 3,6 |
| | | | |
| HISTORIC TERRITORIES | | | |
| Araba/Álava | 0,9 | 0,4 | 7,0 |
| Bizkaia | 2,1 | 0,3 | 5,9 |
| Gipuzkoa | 3,3 | 0,2 | 5,6 |
| | | | |
| EMPLOYMENT | 2,1 | -0,1 | 0,1 |
t / t-4 Year-on-year variation. Data corrected for calendar effects
t / t-1 Interquarterly variation. Deseasonalised data
A(t) / A(t-4) Year-on-year change so far this year. Data corrected for calendar effects
Date Februay 14, 2022
Source: Eustat. Service Index
NOTE
Included as persons employed considered in this and other short-term indices, are those covered by an ERTE (Temporary Labour Force Adjustment Plan), following the definition of persons employed indicated by the Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat) in its manual Methodology of Short Term Business Statistics.
The models used in the correction of calendar effects and deseasonalisation of the series include the effect of COVID-19 on the variables studied, following the recommendations of the Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat) in its methodological note Guidance on Time Series Treatment in the context of the COVID-19 crisis.
Eustat would like to thank all the establishments that have collaborated in making this effort despite the circumstances. As a result, the index for the fourth quarter was calculated with 94.10% coverage.
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