OREANDA-NEWS. August 27, 2009. In January-July 2009, the volume of retail trade in Moldova amounted to 10 billion 730,4 leis, or 4,8% less as compared to the same period of the last year.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, this decline was mainly due to the reduction in sales of the non-foodstuffs by 11%, which accounted for 66,5% of the total retail sales. At the same time, the sales of the foodstuffs increased by 6,8%, accounting for 33,5% of the total retail sales.

The decrease in the retail sales was registered at public, mixed (public + private) companies and enterprises of the private form of ownership, by 13,6%, 13,5% and 7,3%, respectively. At the same time, the company of the joint (with participation of the foreign capital) and foreign forms of the ownership have increased sales’ volumes by 2,7%. As of August 1, 2009, existing inventories of the commercial enterprises amounted to 4 billion 869.5 million leis, increasing by 12,8% as compared to the same period of 2008.

The largest share in the total sales accounts for the companies from Chisinau municipality- 56,1%,Balti - 8,7%, Gagauzia - 3,1%, Orhei - 2,2%, Cahul - 2,1%, Ungheni – and Edinet - 1,8% each, Soroca-1,7% and Drochia regions- 1,6%.