As the world struggles to cope with the coronavirus pandemic, sales of motor vehicles plummeted by 34 percent in Poland last month in year-on-year terms, and those of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics went down by 14.1 percent, the state-run statistics agency reported.
Among other goods, sales of food, beverages and tobacco products decreased by 7.6 percent, while sales of furniture, household appliances and consumer electronics rose by 14.4 percent, according to the Central Statistical Office.
In terms of current prices, retail sales last month were 8.6 percent lower than in May 2019, the statistics office also said.
It added that, in month-on-month terms, retail sales in May were 14.9 percent higher than in April.
Poland in mid-March temporarily closed its borders to non-residents in a move to curb the spread of the COVID-19 disease.
In another move to contain the epidemic, the government limited the operations of shopping malls and closed all pubs, clubs and entertainment venues.
The lockdown affected many businesses and service providers.
Some restrictions were relaxed in April, and hotels and shopping malls were allowed to reopen in early May as the country moved to the next phase of easing its coronavirus lockdown.
Restaurants, bars and cafes were allowed to reopen to customers in the middle of last month with new safety protocols in place.
In another move to ease coronavirus measures, the government lifted restrictions on how many people can gather in places such as retail outlets and restaurants though face coverings and social distancing are still required.
As the economy emerges from the coronavirus lockdown, consumer sentiment in the country has edged up in June in a second straight month of improvement after a severe slump earlier this year, according to the Polish statistics office.
(gs/pk)
Source: PAP