Retail Trade Sales: Hardware January 2023

Retail trade sales or hardware, paint and glass, contracted for the 19th consecutive month in January 2023, down 4.8 percent y-y in real terms.  The retail market in the construction sector is strongly under performs the overall retail market. Total retail sales declined by 0.8 percent y-y in January.  This is the 3rd key economic indicator showing a weaker start to the year.