Retail food sales rose a calendar year-adjusted 1.2 percent. Non-food sales were up 1.3 percent and fuel sales rose 1.6 percent.

Commenting the figures, the Economy Ministry said that, due to the government’s recent measures to ease the burdens on the public, retail sales and domestic consumption would probably continue to increase in the months to come.

The ministry attributed the 1.5 percent growth in retail sales to increasing real incomes, improving employment rates and increasing consumer confidence.

MTI