Markit France PMI : French retail sales fall at slowest pace for a year in June
Chris Williamson
News Release ®Purchasing Managers’ Index MARKET SENSITIVE INFORMATION EMBARGOED UNTIL: 09:10 (UK Time), 27 June 2013 ® Markit France Retail PMI French retail sales fall at slowest pace for a year in June ® Key points: The headline Retail PMI climbed to 48.9 in June, from 45.3 in May. The latest reading was the Month-on-month decline in sales eases... highest for a year and indicative of only a modest ...although year-on-year measure still shows rate of contraction. Although there were reports from survey respondents of a difficult economic sharp drop climate and lower customer footfall, some panellists Rate of job shedding moderates indicated that new commercial campaigns and Historical overview: promotional offers had cushioned the fall in sales. 50 = no change on previous month (seasonally adjusted) In contrast, the year-on-year measure signalled a 65 marked rate of decline in sales, with the latest fall similar to that registered in May. Poor weather, a tough economic backdrop and weak consumer 60 confidence were all reported by panellists to have weighed on sales. 55 Actual sales once more failed to match previously set plans in June. Although the extent of the latest 50 shortfall was the least marked since January, it was still considerable. 45 French retailers are nevertheless optimistic with regard to the one-month outlook for sales.