DISTRIBUTIVE TRADE First quarter of 2009

*FIRST RELEASE*		CROATIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS 10000 ZAGREB, ILICA 3, PHONE: +385 1 4806-111, P.O.B. 80, CROATIA ISSN 1334-0565

YEAR: XLVI.	ZAGREB, 29 JUNE, 2009		NUMBER: 4.1.2/1.

				OBLIGED TO NOTIFY DATA SOURCE

DISTRIBUTIVE TRADE
First quarter of 2009

In the first quarter of 2009, business entities in distributive trade (legal entities and tradesmen) realised 57 279 million kuna of the total turnover. Legal entities realised 55 071 million kuna, or 96.1%, and tradesmen 2 208 million kuna, or 3.9%.

At the end of the first quarter of 2009, legal entities had 23 374 and tradesmen 18 157 outlets, which made the total of 41 531 outlets.

The total number of persons in employment engaged in distributive trade amounted to 234 904. Out of that number, 194 886 persons were employed in legal entities and 40 018 in crafts.

1. OUTLETS, PERSONS IN EMPLOYMENT, TURNOVER AND STOCKS IN DISTRIBUTIVE TRADE, BY ACTIVITIES OF BUSINESS
ENTITIES, FIRST QUARTER OF 2009

	31 March, 2009			Turnover including VAT, thousand kuna I. – III. 2009.
	Outlets	Persons in employment	Stocks, thousand kuna	Turnover including VAT, thousand kuna I. – III. 2009.

Total	41 531	234 904	38 274 473	57 279 421
Mediation in wholesale trade	-	2 007	-	283 599
Wholesale including exports	-	65 872	18 161 801	29 553 401
Retail trade	37 303	145 695	19 592 220	25 004 888
Repair and maintenance of motor vehicles and motorcycles	4 228	11 946	197 490	831 788
Other activities	-	9 384	322 962	1 605 745

Legal entities	23 374	194 886	35 421 077	55 071 158
Mediation in wholesale trade	-	1 387	-	260 791
Wholesale including exports	-	63 881	18 009 195	29 287 053
Retail trade	22 496	115 196	16 929 131	23 354 408
Repair and maintenance of motor vehicles and motorcycles	878	5 881	165 060	608 612
Other activities	-	8 541	317 691	1 560 294

Tradesmen	18 157	40 018	2 853 396	2 208 263
Mediation in wholesale trade	-	620	-	22 808
Wholesale including exports	-	1 991	152 606	266 348
Retail trade	14 807	30 499	2 663 089	1 650 480
Repair and maintenance of motor vehicles and motorcycles	3 350	6 065	32 430	223 176
Other activities	-	843	5 271	45 451

2. BUSINESS ENTITIES, OUTLETS, PERSONS IN EMPLOYMENT, TURNOVER AND STOCKS IN DISTRIBUTIVE TRADE, BY PREVAILING ACTIVITY OF BUSINESS ENTITIES, FIRST QUARTER OF 2009

	31 March, 2009				Turnover including VAT, thousand kuna		Indices I. – III. 2009. I. – III. 2008.
	Business entities	Outlets	Persons in employment	Stocks, thousand kuna	I. – III. 2008.	I. – III. 2009.	Indices I. – III. 2009. I. – III. 2008.

Total	33 611	41 531	234 904	38 274 473	65 471 388	57 279 421	87,5
Legal entities	15 116	23 374	194 886	35 421 077	63 057 497	55 071 158	87,3
Tradesmen	18 495	18 157	40 018	2 853 396	2 413 891	2 208 263	91,5

Trade activities	33 175	38 957	220 606	35 809 256	59 423 356	51 914 226	87,4
Legal entities	14 680	20 800	180 588	32 955 860	57 009 465	49 705 963	87,2
Tradesmen	18 495	18 157	40 018	2 853 396	2 413 891	2 208 263	91,5

45 Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles	4 742	5 800	21 231	4 314 851	9 031 696	6 155 139	68,2
Legal entities	1 540	1 868	13 717	4 087 152	8 678 858	5 813 443	67,0
Tradesmen	3 202	3 932	7 514	227 699	352 838	341 696	96,8

45.1 Sale of motor vehicles	588	662	7 092	2 474 013	6 676 737	4 436 296	66,4
Legal entities	509	616	6 924	2 461 959	6 660 622	4 429 105	66,5
Tradesmen	79	46	168	12 054	16 115	7 191	44,6

45.2 Maintenance and repair of motor vehicles	3 509	4 361	10 138	511 496	1 053 354	803 858	76,3
Legal entities	624	732	3 399	379 597	772 935	530 258	68,6
Tradesmen	2 885	3 629	6 739	131 899	280 419	273 600	97,6

45.3 Sale of motor vehicle parts and accessories	555	686	3 819	1 269 887	1 214 394	863 571	71,1
Legal entities	329	444	3 257	1 186 749	1 161 628	806 153	69,4
Tradesmen	226	242	562	83 138	52 766	57 418	108,8

45.4 Sale, maintenance and repair of motorcycles and related parts and accessories	90	91	182	59 455	87 211	51 414	59,0
Legal entities	78	76	137	58 847	83 673	47 927	57,3
Tradesmen	12	15	45	608	3 538	3 487	98,6

46 Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles	10 128	5 731	71 537	15 293 475	28 614 083	24 818 380	86,7
Legal entities	8 516	4 809	68 278	15 016 854	28 296 056	24 499 473	86,6
Tradesmen	1 612	922	3 259	276 621	318 027	318 907	100,3

46.1 Wholesale on a fee or contract basis	1 669	503	5 156	885 045	1 466 557	1 230 137	83,9
Legal entities	998	181	3 923	824 459	1 379 127	1 157 259	83,9
Tradesmen	671	322	1 233	60 586	87 430	72 878	83,4

46.2 Wholesale trade of agricultural raw materials and live animals	170	129	831	442 103	994 720	1 013 515	101,9
Legal entities	131	92	732	430 956	982 490	996 502	101,4
Tradesmen	39	37	99	11 147	12 230	17 013	139,1

46.3 Wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco	668	579	6 757	883 480	2 331 737	2 164 492	92,8
Legal entities	538	440	6 486	866 998	2 314 093	2 148 643	92,9
Tradesmen	130	139	271	16 482	17 644	15 849	89,8

46.4 Wholesale of household goods	1 389	1 101	13 096	3 590 897	6 485 016	5 918 342	91,3
Legal entities	1 179	916	12 574	3 483 072	6 442 515	5 879 991	91,3
Tradesmen	210	185	522	107 825	42 501	38 351	90,2

46.5 Wholesale of information and communication equipment	215	103	2 540	486 099	1 273 930	1 042 111	81,8
Legal entities	184	83	2 484	481 065	1 265 090	1 035 337	81,8
Tradesmen	31	20	56	5 034	8 840	6 774	76,6

46.6 Wholesale of other machinery, equipment and supplies	329	132	2 093	474 050	806 613	570 822	70,8
Legal entities	315	124	2 064	470 328	803 003	567 323	70,7
Tradesmen	14	8	29	3 722	3 610	3 499	96,9

2. BUSINESS ENTITIES, OUTLETS, PERSONS IN EMPLOYMENT, TURNOVER AND STOCKS IN DISTRIBUTIVE TRADE, BY PREVAILING ACTIVITY OF BUSINESS ENTITIES, FIRST QUARTER OF 2009

(continued)

	31 March, 2009				Turnover including VAT, thousand kuna		Indices I. – III. 2009. I. – III. 2008
	Business entities	Outlets	Persons in employment	Stocks, thousand kuna	I. – III. 2008.	I. – III. 2009.	Indices I. – III. 2009. I. – III. 2008

46.7 Other specialised wholesale	1 069	800	11 148	2 345 192	6 144 201	4 898 925	79,7
Legal entities	927	738	10 830	2 319 370	6 105 571	4 871 904	79,8
Tradesmen	142	62	318	25 822	38 630	27 021	69,9

46.9 Non-specialised wholesale trade	4 619	2 384	29 916	6 186 609	9 111 309	7 980 036	87,6
Legal entities	4 244	2 235	29 185	6 140 606	9 004 167	7 842 514	87,1
Tradesmen	375	149	731	46 003	107 142	137 522	128,4

47 Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles	18 305	27 426	127 838	16 200 930	21 777 577	20 940 707	96,2
Legal entities	4 624	14 123	98 593	13 851 854	20 034 551	19 393 047	96,8
Tradesmen	13 681	13 303	29 245	2 349 076	1 743 026	1 547 660	88,8

47.11 Retail sale in non-specialised stores with food, beverages or tobacco predominating	2 973	7 259	50 095	4 035 947	9 387 395	9 472 136	100,9
Legal entities	775	4 567	44 766	3 724 088	8 863 294	9 013 600	101,7
Tradesmen	2 198	2 692	5 329	311 859	524 101	458 536	87,5

47.19 Other retail sale in non-specialised stores	2 783	3 998	16 922	2 812 490	2 622 083	2 289 894	87,3
Legal entities	959	1 657	12 836	2 464 983	2 332 028	2 034 033	87,2
Tradesmen	1 824	2 341	4 086	347 507	290 055	255 861	88,2

47.2 Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores	1 085	1 888	4 515	178 874	496 157	490 832	98,9
Legal entities	181	834	2 410	143 567	370 457	372 053	100,4
Tradesmen	904	1 054	2 105	35 307	125 700	118 779	94,5

47.3 Retail sale of automotive fuel in specialised stores	76	198	1 966	143 098	1 453 384	1 327 907	91,4
Legal entities	65	185	1 923	142 576	1 451 780	1 326 618	91,4
Tradesmen	11	13	43	522	1 604	1 289	80,4

47.4 Retail sale of information and communication equipment in specialised stores	152	185	614	90 430	181 338	138 985	76,6
Legal entities	100	119	492	82 875	164 173	126 362	77,0
Tradesmen	52	66	122	7 555	17 165	12 623	73,5

47.5 Retail sale of other household equipment in specialised stores	1 650	2 393	12 939	3 255 989	2 510 239	2 222 729	88,5
Legal entities	817	1 355	10 918	2 850 113	2 362 172	2 107 318	89,2
Tradesmen	833	1 038	2 021	405 876	148 067	115 411	77,9

47.6 Retail sale of cultural and recreation goods in specialised stores	464	2 023	6 693	547 638	1 238 189	1 233 745	99,6
Legal entities	258	1 779	6 245	489 002	1 199 501	1 197 691	99,8
Tradesmen	206	244	448	58 636	38 688	36 054	93,2

47.7 Retail sale of other goods in specialised stores	4 124	7 250	24 229	4 605 008	3 340 544	3 263 601	97,7
Legal entities	1 261	3 577	17 769	3 770 707	3 035 971	2 982 338	98,2
Tradesmen	2 863	3 673	6 460	834 301	304 573	281 263	92,3

47.8 Retail sale via stalls and markets	3 489	1 562	6 160	280 674	156 312	138 465	88,6
Legal entities	44	7	106	11 523	10 399	9 617	92,5
Tradesmen	3 445	1 555	6 054	269 151	145 913	128 848	88,3

47.9 Retail sale not in stores, stalls or markets	1 509	670	3 705	250 782	391 936	362 413	92,5
Legal entities	164	43	1 128	172 420	244 776	223 417	91,3
Tradesmen	1 345	627	2 577	78 362	147 160	138 996	94,5

Non-trade activities	436	2 574	14 298	2 465 217	6 048 032	5 365 195	88,7
Legal entities	436	2 574	14 298	2 465 217	6 048 032	5 365 195	88,7
Tradesmen	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

3. COEFFICIENT OF VARIANCE AND STANDARD ERROR FOR SOME VARIABLES, LEGAL ENTITIES AND TRADESMEN,

FIRST QUARTER OF 2009

	Coefficient of variance, %	Estimation of total	Standard error


Legal persons	1,3	23 375	295
Outlets	1,0	194 886	1 713
Persons in employment	2,3	35 421 077	718 956
Stocks, end of quarter	1,8	55 071 157	855 577
Turnover

Tradesmen	1,0	18 157	199
Outlets	1,7	40 018	653
Persons in employment	6,6	2 853 396	187 671
Stocks, end of quarter	3,4	2 208 264	70 279
Turnover

NOTES ON METHODOLOGY

Sources and methods of data collection

Data sources for distributive trade is a regular survey titled the Quarterly Report of Distributive Trade (TRG-2 form).

Data collection is conducted by using the reporting method. It comprises legal entities and tradesmen engaged in activities classified in section G of the NKD 2007.: Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles.

It also includes legal entities classified by their prevailing activity in other sections, but with registered parts that perform trade activities.

The following significant changes were introduced in 2009, as compared to previous years:

- the coverage of both legal entities and tradesmen in the
joint survey since the first quarter of 2009,

- the application of the new version of the National Classification of Activities – the NKD 2007.,

- the preparation of a new sample framework on the basis of updated Statistical Business Register of the Central Bureau of
Statistics, providing that many business units changed their prevailing activity,

- the selection of a new sample of reporting units,
- the redesigning of the questionnaire form.

In order to get the turnover index as accurate as possible, a question on the turnover for the same period of the previous year has been added to the questionnaire form.

All these changes affect the comparability of data with previous periods, especially when it comes to tradesmen, because the sample frame is not up-to-date.

Coverage

The survey is conducted by using the sampling method. The given results are the base for the evaluation of the whole group. The quality of results depends on up-dating of registers, which serves as a frame for sample selection.

The frame for sample selection consists of active legal entities and parts thereof registered in the G section of the NKD 2007. in the Statistical Business Register of the Central Bureau of Statistics. Their activity status is defined according to data obtained from the Register of Tax Payers (annual registration of taxes on profits in 2007) and the Register of Annual Financial Reports (2007) of the Financial Agency (Fina). The frame has also included newly registered legal entities since 1 January 2008. Because of the ongoing updating process, the Statistical Business Register is a subject to permanent changes.

The sample covers all large and medium-sized as well as micro-sized and small legal entities selected by random sample method included in the above mentioned frame. The sample is divided to strata according to the prevailing activity and size of the legal entity.

Legal entities are classified by their prevailing activities according to the NKD 2007. (NN, No. 58/07).

By their size, they are divided into micro-sized, small, medium-sized and large ones. The criterion used in defining the size of legal entities is the number of persons in employment. For legal entities whose prevailing activity is classified outside trade, the number of persons in employment in trade activities is taken into account. Micro-sized entities employ 0 – 9, small ones 10 – 49, medium-sized ones 50 – 249 and large ones 205 and more persons.

The following principle was used in presenting the data: business entities engaged in trade as their main activity (any activity from section G of the NKD 2007.) present data for all activities they are engaged in, even for non-trade ones. Legal entities whose main activity is not trade (e.g. manufacture, traffic and the like) present only data for their trade activities.

The wholesale trade includes only purchase of goods intended for further sale, while it excludes the wholesale trade of own products (from own production of industrial or agricultural enterprises).

The retail trade includes the entire sale to final consumers for personal consumption or use in households, irrespective of whether it comprises resale of someone else's products or sale of own products.

The sampling frame for the distributive trade surveys for natural persons (tradesmen) is the income tax payers’ database of the Tax Administration Office, that is, all magnetic records of tradesmen registered in the said database in section G of the NKD 2007. (situation as in 2007). The sample stratification was done by the prevailing activity in crafts and by age groups of persons in employment: crafts employing 0 – 1 persons, 2 – 9 persons and 10 and more persons. Tradesmen that are engaged but not registered in trade activities were not taken into account when the whole group was evaluated.

Definitions

Distributive trade is a set of all types of trade activities, from supplying goods from the producer to distributing them to the final consumer. It comprises wholesale trade on one's own account, wholesale on a fee or contract basis, retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles and personal and household goods.

Wholesale trade (groups 46.2 – 46.9, part of groups 45.1 and 45.4 and class 45.31 of the NKD 2007.) is an activity of sales of goods to industrial, trading and professional users and organisations as well as to other business entities engaged in wholesale or retail trade. It also includes transit of goods (sales of goods which is by a vendor's order directly delivered to a customer from a warehouse or any other place, put in by a producer, importer or other business entity, without being previously stored at the salesman's). This activity includes exports as well.

Wholesale on a fee or contract basis (group 46.1 of the NKD 2007.) consists of performing of wholesale trade by payment or contract. It includes sales from consignment warehouses, commissioner’s services (representatives, agents), mediator for trading goods and other wholesale vendors operating on behalf or on the account of others, as well as an activity of those who are engaged in connecting vendors with customers or undertake trade transactions on behalf of the owner of goods. Stock exchange is not included.

Retail trade (groups 47.1 – 47.9, part of groups 45.1 and 45.4 and class 45.32 of the NKD 2007.) is the sale of goods to final consumers for personal consumption or use in households.

Sales outlets are the business premises where retail trade is conducted. It comprises: shops, self-service stores, department stores, rented sales space within department stores, kiosks and petrol stations.

Number of employed persons includes all persons actually working in a business entity: all persons in paid employment, owners, co-owners and unpaid family members who regularly work in a business entity; persons working outside central premises of an enterprise (e.g. sales representatives, messengers, repair and maintenance teams); persons on short leaves (e.g. for sickness, maternal leave, paid vacation); persons on strike; short time workers; persons who work at home; seasonal workers and trainees. It excludes persons who are absent for an indefinite time period, then persons working in a monitored business entity, but sent by another business entity (e.g. persons performing repairs in a monitored business entity on account of another enterprise); persons included in obligatory military service. Reporting units often do not stick to this definition because they show only persons in paid employment in a business entity.

Turnover is a value of sold goods and services on the market, irrespective of whether they are paid or not, with VAT included.

Stocks are presented in the state at the end of the quarter, based on accounting value. Stocks in warehouses are shown as stocks in the wholesale trade, while stocks in outlets are shown as stocks in the retail trade.

Coefficient of variation is a relative dispersion measure expressed as a percentage. The larger variation coefficient shows the larger dispersion.

Standard error is an average square deviation of a numerical characteristic value from the arithmetic mean. It is the absolute measure of dispersion.

Abbreviations

e.g. for example (from Latin: exempli gratia)

Fina Financial Agency

NKD 2007. National Classification of Activities, 2007 version

NN Narodne novine, official gazette of the Republic of Croatia

VAT Value Added Tax

'000 thousand

Symbols

- no occurrence