DIY sector in Switzerland stagnates

DIY retailing in Switzerland declined by 0.3 per cent to CHF 2.31 bn in 2016, following a sales downturn of 1.5 per cent in the previous year. The information was provided by the German Federation of DIY and Garden Product Retailers (BHB), which covers all the German-speaking countries. Sales were up in the timber ranges (+1.6 per cent) and furniture (+1.2 per cent). The sharpest declines were experienced in the categories of automotive (-3.6 per cent) and construction elements/construction chemistry/building materials (-2.3 per cent). For 2017 the BHB expects to see sales growth of 0.3 per cent in Switzerland.