Retail sales in August in the Balearics increased by more than the national average: they were up 3.4% over August 2014, according to figures from the National Statistics Institute. This was the fifth highest regional growth in the country, Valencia having been out in front with 6.1%, followed by the Madrid community with 6%. Employment also grew in the retail sector by 2%, the third highest, with Valencia again coming first (up 2.7%).
Across the country the increase in sales averaged out at 3.2%, this growth meaning that there have been twelve consecutive months of improved retail activity. Employment was up by 1.1%, the fifteenth month on the trot that there has been an increase (comparative to the same month in the previous year).
Since January, the upward movement in sales has been by 3.3%, with employment improving by 0.9%.
By outlet, petrol stations once more showed the greatest increase in sales - these were up by 10.3% - while household goods were the most popular buy in that sales of these rose by almost 7%. Surprisingly perhaps, food was down by 0.7%, though supermarket turnover rose by 5.2%.