Las ventas minoristas en Puerto Rico crecen ligeramente en marzo y abril
This graphic shows Puerto Rico’s retail sales trends from April 2013 to April 2014. (Source: Puerto Rico Trade and Export)
El sector minorista de Puerto Rico registró un crecimiento interanual positivo en marzo y abril, cuando la actividad creció un 2,2 % y un 1,3 %, respectivamente, según informó el miércoles Puerto Rico Trade and Export.
According to the most recent numbers, the majority of the retail sectors reflected growth during both months, although activity seemed to dip in April. While 18 sectors showed growth in Marcy, 13 reported doing so the following month, said agency Executive Director Francisco Chévere.
Business sectors that reported greater increase in March were women’s clothing stores with 29.4 percent, stores dedicated to paint, glass and wallpaper sales, with 23.6 percent and hardware stores, with 21.6 percent. In April, women’s clothing stores reported a 30.5 percent growth, with hardware stores, 12.2 percent and men’s clothing stores, 9.8 percent.
“The upward trend in retail sales has been clear for the past seven months. This shows that the different efforts that this administration has been doing are showing and this is reflected in the various business sectors,” Chévere said. “We are seeing a consumer that is more confident in the economy to make their purchases.”
There are a total of 21 retail sectors included in the agency’s survey. The sectors with the most negative results in March were department stores, down 28.6 percent, and new and used car sales, which were down 23.4 percent that month, and down 72.5 percent in April.
The March retail sales report showed a 3.5 percent overall year-over-year growth, with sales exceeding the $3 billion mark, an increase of $105.1 million. Meanwhile, the April numbers show a 1.3 percent growth, with sales exceeding $2.9 billion, for a $39 million year-over-year difference.
Sales for the January-April 2014 period reached $11.8 billion, nearly 2 percent above the same period the prior year.
