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Switzerland's retail sales declined at the fastest pace since late 2016 in September, the Federal Statistical Office reported on Friday.
Retail turnover fell 2.7 percent year-on-year in September after a revised 0.5 percent rise in August. This was the biggest fall since December 2016, when sales were down 4.2 percent.
Economists had forecast a marginal 0.1 percent decline.
Sales of food, beverages and tobacco slid 2.4 percent, whereas non-food sales decreased 3.9 percent in September.
Retail turnover logged an annual fall of 2.3 percent in nominal terms, which was also the sharpest decrease since December 2016.
Month-on-month, real retail turnover dropped 1.6 percent in September after a stagnating in August. In nominal terms also, retail turnover fell 1.6 percent.
