ATHENS – Retail sales volume fell 3.1 pct in March, the first month of the pandemic lockdown in Greece, with a sharp increase in turnover in supermarkets and pharmacies containing the drop, Hellenic Statistical Authority said on Friday.

Sales fell 49.8 pct in clothing/footwear, 25.3 pct in department stores, 16.9 pct in bookstores, 13.8 pct in furniture-home appliance, 13.3 pct in food/alcohol/tobacco and 11.5 pct in fuel/lubricants. On the other hand, sales jumped 20.5 pct in supermarkets and 13.8 pct in pharmaceuticals/cosmetics. The retal sales volume index (turnover in fixed prices) fell 3.1 pct in March compared with the same month last year, but fell 2.0 pct from February 2020. The seasonally-adjusted index eased 0.7 pct in March from February 2020.

The retail sales turnover index (turnover in current prices) fell 1.5 pct in March compared with the same month last year, but was down 0.7 pct from February 2020. The seasonally-adjusted index eased 0.4 pct in March from February 2020.