Cyprus retail trade remains strong in July

Retail trade volumes remain strong, with provisional results for July showing an increase of 6.2% compared with July 2005 and 7.6% compared with the previous month.

In June, volumes rose by 3.2% compared with the same month of 2005 and 3.1% compared with the previous month.

For the period January-July 2006, the index is provisionally estimated to have increased by 6.2% on the corresponding period of 2005.

Almost all categories have shown strong growth, particularly food.

The only categories performing badly have been second-hand stores, and stores selling books, newspaper and stationery, which it seems are losing out to the internet.

Meanwhile, retail sales by value in January-July rose by 7.9% compared with the same period of 2005. F.M.