Slight growth in Austria

DIY retailers in Austria recorded total gross sales of € 2.39 bn in 2014, equivalent to growth of 0.8 per cent, while sales on a comparable store area rose by 0.7 per cent, according to figures from the BHB industry association. Based on a broader definition of the market (association survey), however, the DIY retail trade in Austria suffered a downturn in overall sales of around 0.5 per cent. The sector appears cautiously optimistic with a view to the coming financial year, assuming growth of 1.0 to 1.5 per cent.