Year-on-year growth in sales of goods in 2000 at lowest level since 1990

Retail sales of goods rose in real terms last year by a modest 1.5%, when compared with the year-earlier period, the lowest increase recorded since the year 1990, according to new data released by the Central Statistical Office (GUS). In the third quarter of 2000 retail sales of goods slumped to 0.7%, while in the final quarter of the year they ran into negative territory dipping to -3.4%. GUS says this was caused primarily by a decrease in demand for cars, with a drop in food, alcohol and tobacco goods playing a secondary role. Insiders believe that if domestic sales don’t pick up soon, producers’ stock inventories will continue to grow, slowing down production and ultimately leading to more layoffs on Poland’s already heavily burdened labor market. (Prawo i Gospodarka, March 3-4, pp.1,2) A.D.