The Retail Trade Index is a business cycle indicator which shows the monthly activity of the retail sector in value and volume. It is a short-term indicator for final domestic demand. It should be noted that the volume of sales is different from the volume of (retail) trade services. The latter takes account of changes in the quality of the trade service supplied. As such the volume of sales is conceptually different from the index of production which takes account of quality changes. Data are compiled according to the Statistical classification of economic activities in the European Community, (NACE Rev. 2, Eurostat). Turnover for retail trade are compiled as a "fixed base year Laspeyres type volume-index". The current base year is 2021 (Index 2021 = 100). The index is presented in calendar and seasonally adjusted form. Growth rates with respect to the previous month (M/M-1) are calculated from calendar and seasonally adjusted figures while growth rates with respect to the same month of the previous year (M/M-12) are calculated from calendar adjusted figures.