Swiss DIY trade significantly down in 2022 compared with strong previous years

In Switzerland, DIY stores generated total sales of CHF 3.72 bn (EUR 3.73 bn) in 2022. This was 5.2 per cent below the level of the previous year. The extent of the decline was due to the high sales levels of the strong previous years, however. This was pointed out by the German industry association BHB, which published the figures from the GfK Total Store Report. Among other things, the Swiss sector benefited in previous years from coronavirus-related temporary DIY store closures in neighbouring countries. The average annual growth rate from 2019 to 2022 was 3.4 per cent. With one exception - technology/office/entertainment with a plus of 0.8 per cent - all product groups were in the red in 2022, with the strongest decline being leisure/seasonal goods at -14.1 per cent.