Serbia's external trade grows to EUR 4.0 billion

BELGRADE - Serbia's total external trade for the period January-February 2015 increased by 5.3 percent to EUR 4.01 billion, deficit grew 7.5 percent to EUR 638.4 million, while export-import ratio fell to 72.4 percent.

Expressed in U.S. dollars, trade with foreign countries in the first two months of this year was USD 4.6 billion, which, due to the U.S .currency falling in value, was an 11.0 percent drop against last year. Trade deficit was USD 740.8 million, a decrease of 8.6 percent, the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia said in a release.

Serbia exported EUR 1.68 billion worth of goods, an increase of 4.9 percent compared with the same period in 2014, while imports totaled EUR 2.3 billion, a 5.6 percent growth.

February 2015 alone saw EUR 909.6 million worth of goods exported, an increase of 3.7 percent compared to the same month of the previous year. Imports amounted to EUR 1.27 billion, which is an increase of 6.7 percent against the year before.

SERBIA'S RETAIL TRADE TURNOVER DROPS 2.8 PCT

In February 2015, Serbia's retail trade turnover dropped 2.6 percent in current prices and 0.8 percent in constant prices against the year before, the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia said in a release Tuesday.

In the month, retail trade turnover was down 3.8 and 5.0 percent in current and constant prices, respectively, against January 2015.

Placed against January and February last year, retail trade turnover in the first two months of 2015 dropped 1.0 percent in current prices and grew 1.4 percent in constant prices.

Retail trade turnover (division 47 of CA) data are obtained from a monthly statistical survey dubbed "Monthly report on retail trade", based on a sample unit...