Portugal's commercial sector shows modest growth and mixed performance in August
In August, Portugal's commerce sector recorded a slight real increase, with retail and wholesale showing divergent trends.
The Instituto Nacional de Estatística reported that Portugal's commercial sector posted a small real expansion in August, reversing a monthly decline seen the month before. Retail contributed positively to the overall gain, whereas wholesale trade recovered from a prior contraction. In contrast, the segment covering vehicle maintenance and repair saw a sharp deceleration, limiting its contribution to growth.
When measured without price effects, the sector's nominal increase also outpaced the previous month. Employment, wages and hours worked in the sector all rose modestly on a year-over-year basis, mirroring the slight upward trend in activity.
