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FIGURE 26. Summary of retail trade in major commodity groups (U/OU)
Percentage Distribution of Trade Average Annual Rate of Growth (Percent)
1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971
Total 4.5
Socialist 77.9 78.4 78.8 79.2 80.0 80.5 81.3 5.1
Commission 8.8 8.9 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.2 5.3
Private 13.3 12.7 12.1 11.6 10.7 10.1 9.5 -1.2
Foodstuffs 3.7
Socialist 77.0 77.6 78.1 78.4 79.1 79.8 80.2 4.4
Commission 6.2 6.2 6.2 6.3 6.3 6.2 6.1 3.3
Private 16.8 16.2 15.7 15.3 14.6 14.0 13.7 0.2
Related goods 5.1
Socialist 76.4 77.0 77.7 79.1 80.1 81.0 81.9 6.3
Commission 15.7 15.6 15.4 14.9 14.6 14.2 13.6 2.6
Private 7.9 7.4 6.9 6.0 5.4 4.8 4.5 -4.3
Shoes 4.2
Socialist 75.9 75.9 76.7 77.5 78.0 78.8 80.2 5.1
Commission 13.4 13.9 13.9 13.8 14.3 14.5 13.9 4.9
Private 10.7 10.2 9.4 8.7 7.7 6.7 6.9 -5.8
Textiles and clothing 4.1
Socialist 83.9 84.0 84.2 84.3 85.2 85.5 86.3 4.6
Commission 7.1 7.3 7.5 7.7 7.8 8.2 8.0 6.3
Private 9.0 8.7 8.8 8.0 7.0 6.8 5.7 -3.7
Other industrial goods 5.5
Socialist 77.4 77.7 78.0 78.0 78.4 78.9 80.0 6.1
Commission 8.3 8.7 9.2 9.7 10.3 10.7 10.5 9.7
Private 14.3 13.6 12.8 12.3 11.3 10.4 9.5 -1.4


The growth of retail sales has been rapid, reflecting not only a substantial increase in the volume of personal consumption but also a change in consumption patterns. According to East German statistics, retail sales (in current prices) in 1971 were 48% above the 1960 level, an average annual growth rate of about 3.6%. Both the growth in the volume of trade and the changes in its composition reflect an improvement in the standard of living. Nonfood sales have been growing at a faster rate than food sales (Figure 27). Within the nonfood category, sales of electrical appliances and other luxury items, along with building materials, have grown more rapidly than those of shoes and textiles.

Problems still exist in retail trade, however, in terms of quality and shortages of goods. As the consumers have been able to satisfy most of their quantitative needs for goods and services, they have become


FIGURE 27. Composition of retail sales, by major commodity groups (U/OU) (Percentages of respective totals)
Foodstuffs and Related Goods Of Which Industrial Goods Of Which Total
Foodstuffs Related Goods Shoes Textiles and clothing Other
1950 61.1 66.7 33.3 38.9 6.1 41.6 52.5 100
1955 57.7 68.4 31.6 42.3 6.7 43.9 49.4 100
1960 55.4 69.1 30.9 44.6 5.1 36.1 58.8 100
1965 56.5 68.7 31.5 45.5 6.5 52.5 61.0 100
1970 55.8 67.2 52.8 44.2 6.2 31.1 62.7 100
1971 55.8 66.8 33.2 44.7 6.2 30.9 62.9 100


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