June retail sales rose by 0.2% compared to the previous month and by 0.8% compared to June 2015, Istat national statistics agency reported Tuesday. Non-food sales were up 0.4% month-on-month and by 1% over the previous year, including in furniture, textiles, home furnishings (+2.1%) and toys, sporting goods and camping gear (+1.7%). Food products dropped by 0.1% month-on-month and were up by 0.2% compared to last year, Istat said. As well, the agency reported retail sales were up 0.1% in the second quarter compared to the previous quarter, with food product sales -0.1% and non-food products +0.1%. This is the first positive quarter result since the third quarter last year (+0.2%), Istat said. Retail sales were down 0.2% in the last quarter of 2015 and remained flat in the first quarter of 2016.
As well, Istat said June retail sales added 0.7% in large-scale as well as small-scale distribution.
Specialized non-food retail sales rose by 3.2% and discount retailers except food added 1.3%. Adusbef and Federconsumatori consumer groups begged to differ from the official data. The official figures are "far from reality," they said in a joint statement.
"According to our surveys and the complaints we receive daily, consumption is at a standstill. After a strong contraction in 2012-2015 with consumption dropping by 10.2% - with family spending down by 72.2 billion euros overall - there is no sign of a recovery".
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