The recovery in May was expected as it was the month where some of the Covid-19 lockdown measures were relaxed. The increase was higher in commerce (22.1%) than in the services sector (7.9%).

In the latter, the volume of sales increased on the monthly level the most in hospitality (141.6%). The increase was considerably more modest in the remaining segments - it was 10.1% in transport and warehousing and 7% in scientific and technical activities.

Among all segments of the services sector, the volume of sales was only down in real estate brokerage, by 8%.

On the annual level, the volume of sales in May dropped more in the services sector (-24.8%) than in commerce (-6.6%). Sales were down in all segments of the services sector, the most in hospitality (-65.3%).

In the first five months of the year, the volume of sales in the services sector and commerce was down 12.6% year-on-year. In the former, the drop was 14.7%, and in the latter it was 8.9%.