Austrian DIY stores up 2.4 per cent

In Austria, DIY retailers saw sales growth of 2.4 per cent to EUR 2.46 bn and like-for-like growth of 3.9 per cent last year. These figures were published by the German Federation of DIY and Garden Product Retailers (BHB), which covers all the German-speaking countries. Following the demise of the former market leader Baumax, 2016 was a year of consolidation and reorientation, according to the Federation. Almost two thirds of all 22 range categories recorded an increase in sales, with some increases in double digits (including timber +17.2 per cent and leisure and seasonal goods +12.3 per cent). This year the BHB anticipates sales growth of 1.5 per cent, with like-for-like growth of 2.0 per cent.