Retail sales grew in Catalonia in 2014, for the first time since 2007

Barcelona (ACN).- For the first time in 7 years, in 2014 Catalan shops increased their overall sales figures compared to the previous year, growing by 1.4%. Furthermore, the figures are even more positive looking at the sales in December, which grew by 7.4% compared to the same month in 2013, according to data released on Thursday by the Spanish Statistics Institute (INE). The Catalan figures are better than the Spanish average, both for 2014’s overall figures and for those from December. In Spain as a whole, retail increased by 0.9% last year and by 5.4% in December. The worst year for Catalonia’s retail sector was 2011, when sales dropped by 6.2% in annual terms. Other years, they stagnated, such as in 2010. The sales increase of 2014 is yet another positive indicator, confirming the economic recovery.

In Spain as a whole, employment levels within the retail sector increased by 0.1%. In Catalonia, the number of people employed in this sector grew by 0.8%. In fact, Catalonia is the 3^rd Autonomous Community where employment levels in retail have increased the most, after the Balearic Islands (+1.8%) and Cantabria (+1.1%).

The turnover of the retail sector increased in 12 Autonomous Communities, including Catalonia, where it grew by 1.4%, as aforementioned. Despite the Spanish average standing at 0.9%, other Autonomous Communities performed better than Catalonia: Canary islands (+4.6%), Balearic Islands (+3.2%), Cantabria (+2.4%), the Valencian Community (+2.1%), Ceuta (+1.6%), Navarra (+1.5%) and Murcia (+1.5%). 

During the last month of 2014, retail sales increased by 7.4% in Catalonia and by 5.4% throughout Spain. This is the highest increase during this month since 2007. Taking out the seasonal and sector effects, retail sales throughout Spain increased by 6.5% in December compared to the same month from 2013. This last statistic is not available for Catalonia alone.