Retail sales slow in December – GUS

Poland’s Central Statistical Office (GUS) released its latest figures for retail sales and also for industrial production on Thursday. It stated that retail sales had grown, y/y, by 6.4 percent in December (2016), which was a decrease in comparison with November, when they had grown at a pace of 6.6 percent. Month-on-month, however, they rose by 21.3 percent. In terms of individual sector growth, the biggest increases were in food and beverages (up 19 percent, y/y) and in fuel sales (up 11.8 percent), while the weakest gains were in books and newspapers (up 5.1 percent) and in appliances and furniture (up 5.4 percent). Meanwhile, industrial production in December increased by 2.3 percent, y/y, but decreased by 4.3 percent, month-on-month. Sector-wise, It had annual gains only in water supply (4.2 percent) and manufacturing (3.7 percent)