BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26
By Eldar Janashvili - Trend:
The cost of products sold in Azerbaijan’s retail chains amounted to 11.5 billion manat ($6.7 billion) from January through April 2020, including nearly 6.2 billion manat ($3.6 billion) for food, tobacco prodicts and beverages, and 5.3 billion manat ($3.1 billion) for non-food products, Trend reports referring to Azerbaijan’s State Statistical Committee.
The impact of the special quarantine regime introduced to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection, in particular, has weakened the business activity of the commercial sector, especially in the field of the sale of non-food products. So, in April, retail trade turnover decreased by 33.1 percent compared to March of the current year.
The overall trade turnover in the first 4 months of 2020 was 1.9 percent less compared to the same period of 2019. In particular, the turnover of non-food products was 6.5 percent lower, and food products, beverages and tobacco products - 2.6 percent lower than from January through April of last year.
The average monthly turnover of retail trade per capita from January through April 2020 amounted to 289.1 manat ($170.06) or 1.5 manat (88 cents) more compared to the first 4 months of 2019.
The average monthly volume of the sold food, tobacco products and beverages per person amounted to 154.9 manat ($91.12), and non-food products – 134.2 manat ($78.94).
During the reporting period, 53.6 percent of the funds spent by buyers (of consumer goods) accounted for food, tobacco products and beverages, 14 percent for textile products, clothes and footwear, 5.4 percent for the purchase of gasoline and diesel fuel, 5.1 percent for furniture and electrical goods, 1.8 percent for pharmaceutical and medical products, and 0.7 percent for computers, telecommunications equipment and printing products.
The remaining 19.4 percent of the total value accounted for other non-food products from January through April 2020.
($1= 1.7 manat on May 26)
