Bulgaria's April Retail Sales Up 0.5% Y/Y, Down 0.2% M/M

Bulgaria's retail sales index dropped by 0.2% month-on-month in April at constant prices, the country's statistics office announced on Monday.

Year-on-year, retail sales were 0.5% higher compared to April 2014, according to preliminary data adjusted for the number of working days, the National Statistical Institute (NSI) said in a statement.

Compared with the previous month, the retail sales index rose in the sector of textiles clothing, footwear (+6.9%), while a decrease was recorded in the sales of PCs and software (-1%), household appliances (-0.5%) and food, beverages and tobacco' (- 0.2%).

Compared with the same mont a year earlier, retail sales in April 2015 increased more significantly in the sector 'Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet' (+7.7%). Retail sales of medical goods, cosmetic and toilet articles' rose by 5.6%, sales of automotive fuels increased by 3.7% and sales of audio and video equipment; hardware, paints and glass; and household appliances' grew by 3.3%. Retail sales of textiles, clothing and footwear decreased by 4.5%, sales of PCs, software and telecommunications equipment were down 2.3%, and sales of food, beverages and tobacco were 1.2% lower than in April 2014.