The May findings from the monthly Retail PMI survey for France were produced by IHS Markit and based on a panel of 300 retailers.
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The headline figure is the Retail PMI, which measures month-on-month change in sales.
Latest data signalled a rise in like-for-like sales for the second month in row, with the latest increase the strongest in over five-and-a-half years.
In contrast, sales were down on an annual basis, thereby reversing the upturn seen in April.
Gross margins continued to fall, due, in part, to a rise in average purchasing costs.
Rising sales led retailers to expand their purchasing to the greatest extent in over six years.
Meanwhile, staffing numbers rose for the sixth time in seven months.
The seasonally adjusted headline Retail PMI posted 53.3 in May, up from 51.8 in April, signalling the sharpest rise in like-for-like sales since October 2011.
Anecdotal evidence suggested that higher footfall, promotional offers and good weather contributed to the increase.
On the other hand, the year-on-year measure indicated a fall in retail sales in May, following an increase in the previous month.
That said, the rate of decline was only slight overall.
Actual sales fell short of retailers’ previously-set plans in May, thereby extending the current sequence of decline that has been evident since February 2008.
Moreover, the extent of the latest shortfall strengthened from April and was marked.
Meanwhile, retailers were optimistic that targets would be met in June.
The degree of positive sentiment improved slightly from the previous month and remained sharp.
Factors expected by survey respondents to boost sales over the coming months include: government reforms, positive impact of the presidential election, weaker competitive pressures, household confidence and higher customer purchasing power.
Those factors reported by panel members as likely to depress sales over the next three months include: social unrest and demonstrations, terrorist attacks and a deadlock in government.
Gross margins fell for the fifth time in as many months during May.
Moreover, the rate of decline was the steepest in this sequence marked overall. ■