Retail trade turnover index registered a year-on-year change rate of -5.6% in March, down by 14.5 percentage points from February. The indices of employment, wages and salaries and hours worked adjusted of calendar effects presented year-on-year change rates of 1.8%, 2.9% and -1.2%, respectively (2.7%, 8.1% and 3.3% in the previous month, by the same order).
In the 1st quarter of 2020, the retail trade turnover index revealed a year-on-year change rate of 2.5% (3.5% in the 4th quarter 2019).

The information in this press release, referring March 2020, reflects probably the situation determined by the pandemic COVID-19, either in economic behavior either in the amount of data for compilation of results presented. We call for the best collaboration by firms, households and public entities in answering, despite the present difficulties, to Statistics Portugal. The quality of official statistics depends crucially on this collaboration, which INE thanks in advance.