Ljubljana - Turnover from the sale of goods in Slovenia declined in both wholesale and retail trade in 2020. It totalled EUR 26.2 billion, down 5.7% on 2019. Due to the lower mobility of the population, fuel sales revenue fell markedly, according to the Statistics Office.

Wholesale traders sold EUR 13.8 billion worth of goods last year, down 3.6% on 2019, the first year-on-year decline since 2013.

As business-to-consumer transactions were subject to stricter restrictions than business-to-business transactions, retail turnover fell even more than wholesale turnover. At EUR 12.4 billion, it was 7.9% lower than a year earlier.

In retail trade, sales of energy products and motor fuels decreased the most, by 39.1%. In addition to low motor fuel prices, this decline is also likely to be due to lower population mobility, say the statisticians.

More time spent at home might also be the reason for the growth in turnover from the sales of electrical appliances and devices, garden equipment and construction material, installation and technical products.

Food and beverages accounted for the largest share of retail income in 2020, as the segment even increased by 3.4% compared to 2019.

Passenger cars and equipment remained the second biggest commodity group in retail trade, although turnover decreased by 12.4%. In third place, energy products and motor fuels were replaced by medicines, medical devices and cosmetics.