Switzerland's retail sales declined for the fourth successive month in January, as sales of both food and non-food items contracted, data from the Federal Statistical Office showed on Wednesday.
Retail sales adjusted for sales days and holidays fell a working-day adjusted 2.2 percent year-on-year in January, slower than the 3.0 drop in December.
Sales of food, beverages, and tobacco declined 3.3 percent yearly in January and those of non-food items decreased 2.3 percent, the agency said.
Retail sales, excluding service stations, deteriorated by 2.4 percent in January from a year ago, after a 3.3 percent fall a month ago.
On a monthly basis, retail sales grew a seasonally adjusted 0.6 percent at the start of the year.
In nominal terms, retail sales advanced 0.7 annually and by 1.2 percent monthly in January.
