In August 2019, the rate of change of the trade turnover index (Ica) decreased, changing
monthly, from 8.7% in July to -3.7%.
According to the Central Bank of West African States (Bceao) which gives the information in its "Note
monthly economic situation" of August 2019, the decline in activity in the trade of
retail is mainly related to sales of food products, building materials,
petroleum and pharmaceutical products.
This development, according to the same source, was mitigated by the increase in purchases of new vehicles,
office machines and computer hardware.
The decline in retail trade activities is located in Benin (-39.4% against -9.6%), Togo (-12.2%
against +14.3%), Côte d'Ivoire (-5.9% against +9.9%), Mali (-3.7% against -0.9%) and Niger (-4.3%
vs. -20.3%).
Sales increases in Guinea-Bissau (+17.9%), Burkina Faso (+16.3%) and Senegal (+1.1%)
exerted a moderating effect.
Year-on-year, the pace of growth of the revenue index increased by +4.0%
in July 2019 to +5.6% in August 2019, mainly due to stronger sales of products
pharmaceuticals, textiles, clothing, footwear and leather, as well as automobiles,
motorcycles and spare parts.
Slowing sales of petroleum products, building materials and > food exerted a moderating effect.
The renewed growth in retail trade activities is mainly attributable to Burkina
(+1.6% against -2.3%), Guinea-Bissau (+4.4% against +4.1%) and Senegal (-1.6% against -5.5%), as well as
than the maintenance of the bullish profile in Niger (+11.7% against +26.5%).
These upward trends were mitigated by decreases in Benin (-44.4% against +6.2%), in
Togo (-9.7% against -8.8%), Mali (-2.0% against +3.3%) and Côte d'Ivoire (-1.4% against +5.2%).