Retail sales up in 2015 after four years of drops

(ANSA) - Rome, February 25 - Italian retail sales increased by 0.7% in 2015 with respect to 2014, the first year-on-year rise after four consecutive annual falls, Istat said on Thursday. The national statistics agency said the increases regarded food goods, up 1.3%, and non-food stuffs, up 0.5%. Sales for mayor retail companies were up 1.5% but small shops registered a rise of just 0.1%.