Italian volume retail sales up for first time in 18 months

(ANSA) - ROME, APR 10 - Italian retail sales increased by 0.3% in volume terms in February with respect to the same month last year, the first rise after 18 months of consecutive falls, Istat said on Wednesday.
    The national statistics agency said retail sales were up by 2.4% in value with respect to February 2023, continuing an upward trend that started in February 2021.
    The fact that retail sales have been increasing in value terms but decreasing in volume is an indication of the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, as it suggests that people have been paying more to get less.
    Istat said food sales were up 3.9% in value and 0.4% in volume year-on-year, while non-food goods increased by 1.1% in value and 0.5% in volume respectively.
    The agency said retail sales were also up in month-on-month terms, rising 0.1% in both value and volume. (ANSA).