This is how it emerges from the SME Retail Sales Index prepared by CAME among 757 businesses. Analyzing sales at constant prices, the results in February 2022 were:
- Compared to January 2022 (monthly variation): they decreased 2.9%, with increases in 4 of the categories surveyed and decreases in 7. The greatest increase occurred in Toy stores and art. bookstores (+8.7%) and footwear and leather goods (+7.2%). And the biggest falls, in Electronics, computers and cell phones (-8%) and Pharmacies (-6.2%).
- Compared to February 2021 (annual variation), they grew 20.7%, with 10 items on the rise and 1 on the decline. The largest increase was in Footwear and leather goods (+45.7%) due to the effect of the start of the school year. The only drop was in Hardware stores, electrical materials and construction (-1.3%).
- Compared to February 2020 (biannual variation), they rose 12.9%, with 10 items rising and 1 falling. One of the items with the greatest progress was Clothing, lingerie and accessories (+26.5%).
- In the first 2 months of the year, sales accumulated an increase of 19.1% compared to the same months of 2021 and 11.8% if compared to the first two months of 2020.
- 56.3% of the entrepreneurs consulted commented that their sales for the month were between good and very good, and for another 36.6% they were average. Although SMEs are still in the process of recovering, the good news is that only 7.1% rated them as bad or very bad.
Growth by category
Food and drinks: Sales in January rose 8.2% annually and accumulate an increase of 10.4% for the first two months of 2022 compared to the same months last year. In February 2021 the figures had not been good and the increase, in part, reflects that recovery. It was an item hit hard by prices in the first two months of the year. Businesses in tourist areas were the ones that reported the largest increases. When compared to February 2020, the reference month for being prior to the pandemic, Food and Beverage sales grew 3.8% (at constant prices).
Appliances, electronic items, computers, cell phones and accessories: sales in February improved 20.9% annually and fell 8% monthly, at constant prices. It is a sector that has been having great difficulty in recovering. But in February, businesses oriented to school equipment and those dedicated to the sale of cell phones and accessories sold very well. When compared to February 2020, sales of these products climbed 14.4% (at constant prices).
Clothing, lingerie and accessories: sales rose 36.9% annually in February and fell 4.6% monthly, something to be expected in the comparison with January due to the seasonal nature of this demand. It was a very good month for stores oriented towards school clothing, events clothing and, although to a lesser extent, the sale of office clothing was also reactivated. The businesses also observed that there were problems to replenish products, missing merchandise and price increases. Comparing February 2022 to February 2020, sales for this item rose 26.5% (at constant prices).
Sports and recreation clothing and articles: sales in February increased 22.3% annually and 0.9% monthly (measured at constant prices). Most of the stores surveyed declared that the activity of the month was very good, favored by the start of classes, but with price increases that affect them above all in the replacement of stock. It is an item that has been selling very well since the start of the pandemic, and that has not changed. Compared to February 2020, sales of these products increased 14.7% (at constant prices).
Toy and stationery stores: sales grew 38.9% annually at constant prices, and 8.7% monthly. Those growth rates reflect this season’s school sale, which many businesses rated as very good. When compared to February 2020, sales of those products rose 18.4%.
Furniture, decoration and home textiles: sales increased 25.9% annually at constant prices and fell 1.8% monthly. The increase in tourism reduced demand for this sector, although compared to last year the recovery was important. Sales with cards and installments prevailed, and businesses oriented to premium lines had a poorer performance than the rest. Compared to February 2020, sales of these products increased 12.7% (at constant prices).
