Sales in small stores up by 2.7% y/y - report

Sales in small stores (up to 300 sqm) increased by 2.7 percent y/y in September, according to a report prepared by market research firm CMR. In month-on-month terms, sales fell by 10 percent, mainly due to a decrease in seasonal shopping, such as ice cream (a drop of 70 percent m/m), beer (a 22 percent drop) and bottled beverages (a nearly 40 percent decline). The small store category encompasses grocery stores and specialists off-license stores.