“The trends of gradual slowdown could be seen in all main categories of goods. Luckily, the growth rates are still positive – it shows that the growth will remain positive despite deceleration in the growth of consumer expenses,” she told BNS in comments about the latest retail sales data.
The sales of clothes and footwear surged in August amid traditional discount campaigns, the analyst said.
Klyvienė mentioned a fall in Poland’s zloty and record heat prices in the upcoming heating season as the main risks for the retailers’ turnover.
“Obviously, the prices of gas have already increased and the rise is significant, which may trigger a new inflation surge and affect retail sales,” Klyvienė said.
According to the analyst, the Polish central bank is expected to lower its main interest rate, which would drive down zloty’s rate and might give a boost to shopping tourism in that country.
Lithuania’s retail sales, excluding car sales and repairs, as well as catering and beverage service providers, rose by 5.5 percent in the first eight months of this year from the same period last year, to 17.142 billion litas (EUR 4.97 b, ex VAT), Statistics Lithuania reported earlier on Thursday.
Eight-month turnover of motor vehicle and motorcycle wholesalers and retailers and repair service providers increased by 6.1 percent, year-on-year, to 5.018 billion litas, whereas food and beverage service providers raised their sales by 15.4 percent, to 710.7 million litas, the office said.
