Retail sales volume increased by 2.8 percent in April 2023 compared to the previous month, according to statistics from Statistics Sweden (SCB). Grocery retail, excluding Systembolaget (the state-owned liquor store), increased by 1.8 percent, while non-grocery retail increased by 2.7 percent.
During the latest three-month period (February-April), the calendar-adjusted and seasonally adjusted retail sales volume was 1.6 percent lower than in the previous three-month period (November-January). Non-grocery retail showed a decline of 3.6 percent, and grocery retail, excluding Systembolaget, showed a decline of 0.7 percent.
Compared to the same month in 2022, retail sales volume in April decreased by 6.5 percent in calendar-adjusted terms. Non-grocery retail decreased by 8.3 percent, and grocery retail, excluding Systembolaget, decreased by 4.5 percent.
In constant prices without calendar adjustment, the retail sales volume for the overall retail sector in April 2023 showed a decrease of 8.6 percent compared to the same period the previous year. Non-grocery retail experienced a decline of 10.3 percent, while grocery retail, excluding Systembolaget, showed a decline of 6.3 percent.
In current prices, retail turnover increased by 2.6 percent in April 2023 compared to April 2022. Non-grocery retail decreased by 1.6 percent, while grocery retail, excluding Systembolaget, increased by 9.3 percent.
It should be noted that changes have been made to the statistical unit of activity from the reference year 2023. These changes aim to improve the functional statistics that describe individual activities in the economy, such as the turnover of service industries.