Czech Retail Sales Slow Further in July

Czech retail sales growth slowed further in July, providing more evidence of the steady deceleration in the economy. In fact sales continued to rise year on year simply because there were 3 more working days in July 2008 than in July 2007.



Seasonally adjusted retail sales (excepting the automotive segment) were down by 0.6%month-on-month at constant prices in July. The year-on-year increase was 1.0% (without seasonal and wd adjustment they increased by 3.4%). The biggest contribution to the growth of sales came from the sale of books, newspapers and stationery, other retail sale in specialised stores and sales of furniture, lighting equipment and household articles, electrical appliances, radio and television goods, hardware, paints and glass in specialized stores.

In the automotive segment, seasonally adjusted sales at constant prices were down by 3.9% m-o-m and down by 2.2% y-o-y. Not seasonally adjusted sales grew by 4.0% year on year. Seasonally adjusted sales in hotels and restaurants dropped by 0.6% m-o-m and not seasonally adjusted sales decreased by 3.0% y-o-y. That is, tourism and services generally have been having a hard time of it.