Variations in German-speaking regions

DIY retailing experienced a slightly negative trend in 2012. As a result, the combined gross sales of the German DIY stores achieved a figure of € 18.6 bn, which indicates a nominal sales decline of 0.6 per cent year-on-year. Sales were also downward in like-for-like terms at minus 0.8 per cent. These are official figures from the BHB industry association. Combined gross sales of the DIY stores in Austria increased to € 2.2 bn, nominally by 1.7 per cent unadjusted and 0.9 per cent like-for-like. The DIY retail sector in Switzerland can also look back on positive progress. After a relatively restrained year in 2011, the combined gross sales of the Swiss DIY stores achieved a figure of € 1.85 bn, which amounts to a nominal increase of 4.6 per cent (unadjusted) on the previous year.